Yes fans in 1972 may
have been puzzled by the choice of Alan White to replace Bill Bruford as the
band’s drummer. The latter was, by his own admission, a “jazzer” prone to
adding elaborate fills and quirky signatures that were a key part of the band’s
early sound. White on the other hand would be seen as a more straightforward
player whose unobtrusive presence can be heard on the likes of John Lennon’s
`Imagine` and George Harrison’s `All Things Must Pass` though you’re definitely
aware of him on `Instant Karma`. How many people at the time though even knew
he was part of those albums? As it turned out Alan White was exactly what Yes
needed to move forward. Locked in with `lead bassist` Chris Squire this rhythm
section would propel the band for more than forty years until Squire’s death in
2015.
