Died On This Date (March 7, 2013) Peter Banks / Founding Guitarist Of Yes
themusicsover Peter Banks
July 15, 1947 – March 7, 2013
Once called “The Architect Of Progressive Music,” Peter Banks was the original guitarist for prog rock pioneers, Yes. Raised in North London, Banks first learned the guitar when his father gave him an acoustic one as a child. By his teens, he was also playing the banjo. The first band of note he played in was the Syn, which also counted future Yes members, Chris Squire and Steve Howe as members. The band’s biggest claim to fame was opening for Jimi Hendrix‘s legendary Marquee Club show that was witnessed my just about every member of England’s rock royalty of the day. After the Syn broke up in 1967, Banks joined Mabel Greer’s Toy Shop who eventually morphed into Yes, a name suggested by Banks as temporary, until a better one presented itself. Banks was a member of the band until 1970, playing on their self-titled debut as well as Time And A Word. In later years, he joined the band on stage on occasion and participated in a 1997 tribute album to them. He was also involved in later album and documentary projects. Banks went on to play in Flash, Empire, and Harmony Of Diversion as well as do session work well into the 2000s. On March 7, 2013, Peter Banks died of heart failure. He was 65.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus of Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
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