Yes Star Anderson: 'It's Time To Stop Touring'

The singer's respiratory problems forced bandmates Steve Howe and Chris Squire to seek a new singer for their upcoming 40th Anniversary tour - and Anderson was far from happy they didn't check in with him about the decision.

But he hasn't given up hope of getting better and returning to Yes.

However, he insists his time away from the band has given him fresh perspective about the future of the progressive rock supergroup - and now he insists they have to stop touring.

He tells ClassicRockForever.com, "As for my health now, I truly feel reborn, it’s gonna take some months before I can do shows, but my dreams are coming true.

"Like most people my age - I’m now 64 - the body (and) mind goes through so many changes. I feel that my health has always been strong enough for the band…up until 2004. There had been too many tours, too much friction from outside of the band. This had made it impossible to keep touring the way Yes truly should.

"With no new music, a lack of passion for the music and each other, and no real promotion of who Yes truly is, etc., things just looked so bleak. That’s why I suggested a break for six months, maybe do a progressive acoustic CD, and tour on a different style of touring, semi-acoustic for a while, and less shows per year… just for us to realise who we were. We were not communicating as a band.

"Both (departed Yes star) Rick (Wakeman) and myself could see it happening, but sadly the others just wanted to keep going down that same touring spiral. That’s why Yes hasn't toured, as it happens, to the best.

"Hopefully we will get back together and perform in the coming years, I truly hope so. The fans deserve it, and so do we."