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Peter William Brockbanks (15 July 1947 – 7 March 2013), known professionally as Peter Banks, was a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. He was the original guitarist in the rock band
Yes, and also
the Syn
The Syn are an English band that were active from 1965 to 1967, and then reunited as a progressive rock band in 2004. The band was founded by Steve Nardelli, Chris Squire, Andrew Pryce Jackman, Martyn Adelman and John Painter. Chris Welch, in hi ...
,
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Barry Allen)
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Wally West, the first Kid ...
, and Empire. Former ''
Sniffin' Glue
''Sniffin' Glue and Other Rock 'N' Roll Habits...'', widely known as simply ''Sniffin' Glue'', was a monthly punk zine started by Mark Perry in July 1976 and released for about a year. The name is derived from a Ramones song " Now I Wanna Sniff ...
'' and ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' journalist
Danny Baker
Danny Baker (born 22 June 1957) is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Throughout his career he has largely presented for London's regional radio and television.
Baker was born in Deptford to a working-class fam ...
described Banks as "the architect of progressive music".
Biography
Early life
Banks' father was an optical mechanic and his mother a cleaner. He grew up in
Barnet
Barnet may refer to:
People
*Barnet (surname)
* Barnet (given name)
Places United Kingdom
*Chipping Barnet or High Barnet, commonly known as Barnet, one of three focal towns of the borough below.
*East Barnet, a district of the borough below; an ...
,
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England, north of the River Thames. It extends from Clerkenwell and Finsbury, on the edge of the City of London financial district, to Greater London's boundary with Hertfordshire.
The term ''nort ...
, where he attended Barnet Secondary School
and
Barnet College of Further Education.
When he was a young boy, his father bought him an
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
. As a teenager, he also learned how to play the
banjo
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...
.
Early career
Banks started with the Nighthawks in 1963, and played his first concert at the New Barnet Pop Festival before leaving that band to join the Devil's Disciples in 1964. The band consisted of Banks on guitar, John Tite on vocals, Ray Alford on bass and Malcolm "Pinnie" Raye on drums. They recorded two songs on an acetate, Arthur Alexander's "
You Better Move On" and
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the co-lead singer and bassist of the art rock band 10cc. He has been the band's only constant member since its formation in 1972. Before 10cc ...
's "
For Your Love
"For Your Love" is a rock song written by Graham Gouldman and recorded by English group the Yardbirds. Released in March 1965, it was their first top ten hit in both the UK and the US. The song was a departure from the group's blues roots in ...
" which would be a hit record for
the Yardbirds
The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist and later bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell ...
one year later. These two songs can be found on Banks' archival album ''Can I Play You Something''. According to
Chris Welch
Chris Welch (born 12 November 1941) is an English music journalist, critic, and author who is best known for his work from the late 1960s as a reporter for ''Melody Maker'', ''Musicians Only'', and ''Kerrang!''. He is the author of over 40 mu ...
, The Devil's Disciples used to play
the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...
' first album in its entirety, just for the sake of it. About a year later, Banks joined The Syndicats, replacing their guitarist
Ray Fenwick
Raymond John Fenwick (18 July 1946 – 30 April 2022) was an English guitarist and session musician, best known for his work in The Syndicats and in The Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, and as the lead guitarist of Ian Gillan's post- Deep Pu ...
, who himself had replaced
Steve Howe
Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to le ...
, who would later replace Banks in Yes.
Banks then formed a new band with ex-the Selfs bassist
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes. He was the longest-serving original memb ...
, this band being
the Syn
The Syn are an English band that were active from 1965 to 1967, and then reunited as a progressive rock band in 2004. The band was founded by Steve Nardelli, Chris Squire, Andrew Pryce Jackman, Martyn Adelman and John Painter. Chris Welch, in hi ...
. They were joined by keyboardist
Andrew Pryce Jackman
Andrew Pryce Jackman (13 July 1946 – 16 August 2003) was an English keyboardist, arranger and composer who worked with many leading figures in British popular music. His most successful project was as the arranger and conductor of the ''Classi ...
,
Steve Nardelli
Stephen Louis Nardelli (born 10 April 1948 in London) founded the Syn in 1966 with Chris Squire, Martyn Adelman and others. In 1968, Nardelli left the band for a business career in the fashion and sports industries before reforming the band in 2 ...
on vocals as well as Gunnar Jökull Hákonarson on drums. They recorded two singles, "Created by Clive"/"Grounded" and "Flowerman"/"14 Hour Technicolour Dream" both in 1967 before calling it a day a year later. Squire meanwhile joined friends Clive Bayley (rhythm guitar) and Bob Hagger (drums) in
Mabel Greer's Toyshop
Mabel Greer's Toyshop are an English progressive rock (initially as psychedelic rock) band formed in London and initially active from 1966 to 1968. The band was the precursor to the rock band Yes. Their music was marked by a combination of p ...
, and Banks came to join that band. He briefly left the band, which was subsequently joined by singer
Jon Anderson
John Roy Anderson (born 25 October 1944) is an English singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer of the progressive rock band Yes, which he formed in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire. He was a member of the band across thre ...
and then drummer
Bill Bruford
William Scott Bruford (born 17 May 1949) is an English former drummer and percussionist who first gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock band Yes. After leaving Yes in 1972, Bruford spent the rest of the 1970s recording ...
replacing Hagger. During that short period of time, Banks played with the band Neat Change, recording one single, "I Lied to Aunty May" with Squire on tambourine and chorus.
Banks then returned to Mabel Greer's Toyshop, and with the loss of Bayley and the addition of organist/pianist
Tony Kaye, they started to write new music together, adding to a repertoire already including two songs already written, "Beyond and Before" by Squire and Bayley and "Sweetness" by Anderson, Bayley and Squire.
Career with Yes
The members searched for an appropriate name; Anderson suggested Life and Squire proposed World but all agreed on Banks' proposition of Yes.
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
took notice of the band and, in 1969, got them into a studio to record their first album, ''
Yes''. The next year another album was in progress (''
Time and a Word
''Time and a Word'' is the second studio album by English rock band Yes, released on 24 July 1970 by Atlantic Records. It was put together several months after the release of the band's 1969 eponymous debut, during which they continued to tour ...
'') but Anderson and Squire decided they wanted an orchestra backing the five musicians. The idea was not well received by Banks, and things got worse when the orchestral arrangements left the guitarist, as well as Tony Kaye, with little to do (
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
replaced their parts almost note-for-note). Once the album was released, a tour ensued; Banks was asked to leave the group,
playing his last concert with Yes on 18 April 1970 at The Luton College of Technology. He was replaced by
Steve Howe
Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to le ...
. In his autobiography, Steve Howe wrote that Banks "was an interesting guitarist to have to follow. He, too, adopted different guitar styles and had already set a scene I could relate to. He was a sweet guy and came to many of our early gigs. I can't think of many other ex-band members doing that - I mean, right after they've left the band."
During Yes' 1991 Union tour, Kaye invited Banks to play during the encore at 15 May show at the
Great Western Forum
Kia Forum (formerly The Forum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located between West Manchester Boulevard, across Pincay Drive and Kareem Court, it is north of SoFi Stadium and t ...
in
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 107,762. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. The city is in the South Bay ...
, United States. Banks accepted the invitation and went to the show, but says he was told by Kaye that Howe did not want him to play.
In August 1994, Banks was a featured guest at a Yes fan festival called Yestival. In 1995, he performed "Astral Traveller" on the Yes tribute album ''Tales from Yesterday''. In 1997, he coordinated the release of a Yes compilation titled ''
Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970''. His liner notes described his early days with the band. Banks was also present at Yestival in July 1998. In 2006, he was interviewed for the Yes documentary ''
Classic Artists: Yes''. Several music videos featuring him with Yes during their early days can be seen in ''
The Lost Broadcasts'' DVD released in 2009.
Work with other bands
After leaving Yes, and while looking for some other musical projects, Banks supported
Blodwyn Pig
Blodwyn Pig was a British blues rock band, founded in 1968 by guitarist–vocalist–songwriter Mick Abrahams.
Career
Abrahams left Jethro Tull after their debut album, '' This Was'', was released, due to a falling-out with Tull vocalist Ian A ...
for a brief period in late 1970, replacing their original guitarist
Mick Abrahams
Michael Timothy Abrahams (born 7 April 1943) is an English guitarist and band leader, best known for being the original guitarist for Jethro Tull from 1967 to 1968 and the frontman for Blodwyn Pig.
Jethro Tull
Abrahams was born in Luton, B ...
. He guested as
session musician
Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...
on an album by Chris Harwood, ''Nice To Meet Miss Christine'', with other musicians like
Dave Lambert of
The Strawbs
Strawbs (or The Strawbs) are an English rock band founded in 1964 as the Strawberry Hill Boys. The band started out as a bluegrass group, but eventually moved on to other styles such as folk rock and progressive rock.
They are best known fo ...
on guitar,
Tommy Eyre
Tommy Eyre (5 June 1949 – 23 May 2001) was an English session keyboardist from Sheffield, England, who appeared on records by Joe Cocker, John Martyn, Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Greg Lake, B.B. King, John ...
on keyboards, ex-
King Crimson
King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experime ...
Ian McDonald on sax and flute as well as ex-
Spencer Davis Group
The Spencer Davis Group were a British band formed in Birmingham in 1963 by Spencer Davis (guitar), brothers Steve Winwood (keyboards, guitar) and Muff Winwood (bass guitar), and Pete York (drums). Their best known songs include the UK numbe ...
Pete York
Peter York (born 15 August 1942 in Redcar, Yorkshire, England) is a British rock drummer who has been performing since the 1960s.
Biography
Born in Redcar, he attended the Nottingham High School and learnt to play the trumpet and snare drum ...
on percussion.
In 1971 Banks, singer Colin Carter, bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough formed
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Barry Allen)
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Wally West, the first Kid ...
and sessions began for a first album for Sovereign/Capitol Records, with Tony Kaye guesting on keyboards.
The record appeared in 1972 (called simply ''
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Barry Allen)
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Wally West, the first Kid ...
'') and had a warm reception, with the single, "Small Beginnings" rising to #28 on the Billboard Charts. Subsequent to Kaye's involvement, Flash continued without a keyboardist. Flash recorded and released its second album (''In the Can'') in November that same year, with the singles "Lifetime" and "Children of the Universe" (from the first album) receiving significant airplay. A third album, ''Out of Our Hands'' was released in 1973.
Due to on-going personal tensions within the band, including Banks meeting a new girlfriend, singer Sidonie Jordan, and wanting to form a band with her, Flash broke up while on tour in America in 1973.
Parallel to work on the third Flash album, Banks and guitarist
Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman (born 24 December 1946) is a Dutch guitarist. He first found international commercial success with the band Focus (band), Focus, which he co-founded with Thijs van Leer. After leaving Focus, he continued as a solo musician, adding ja ...
became friends and started to play and record together. Banks also played on an album by
Roger Ruskin Spear
Roger Ruskin Spear (born 29 June 1943 in Hammersmith, London) is an English sculptor, multimedia artist and multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet, piano, guitars, percussion) who was a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
Career
After Sp ...
at that time. In 1973, simultaneous with the third and final Flash release, Capitol Records released ''Two Sides of Peter Banks''.
Guest musicians included Akkerman, bassist
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for his dexterous bass playing and booming baritone voice, Wetton first gained fame in the early 1970s.
Wetton was the singer and p ...
, drummer
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
, guitarist
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis ...
and fellow Flash members Ray Bennett and Mike Hough.
Around the summer of 1973, Banks played with the jazz-rock band called Zox & the Radar Boys, including Phil Collins (drums) and his mate from the Flaming Youth days Ronnie Caryl on guitar, Mike Piggott (violin) and John Howitt (bass).
In 1973, Banks tried to form a new band, with singer and soon-to-be-wife,
Sidney Foxx (real name
Sidonie Jordan). Named Empire, Banks, Foxx, and various other band members recorded three albums up to 1979 which were unreleased.
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
played drums on one track and
Preston Heyman
Preston Heyman is a British record producer, drummer and percussionist.
He is credited on the Kate Bush album ''Never for Ever''.
He played Oriental percussion instruments on the track "Blood Sucking" of Mike Oldfield's soundtrack for the fil ...
(later to join Kate Bush) played drums on the rest (after a recommendation from Collins),
John Giblin
John Giblin, is an active session musician, contributing mainly as an acoustic and electric bass player, and spanning genres of jazz, classical, rock, folk and avant-garde music. Best known as a studio musician, recording film scores and cont ...
from
Brand X
Brand X were a jazz fusion band formed in London in 1974. They were active until 1980, followed by a reformation between 1992 and 1999, and were active following a 2016 reunion until 2021. Members have included John Goodsall (guitar), Percy ...
played bass, and
Jakob Magnusson
Jakob may refer to:
People
* Jakob (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Jakob (surname), including a list of people with the name
Other
* Jakob (band), a New Zealand band, and the title of their 1999 EP
* Max Jakob Memorial A ...
played organ on the first album, ''Mark I''. Ray Bennett of Flash was asked to join the band and initially agreed, but due to continuing tensions, declined. Banks and Foxx divorced, although Empire remained together as a band for some time after.
Later work
Work in the second half of the 1970s included a number of session appearances, on separate albums by
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James Donegan (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002), known as Lonnie Donegan, was a British skiffle singer, songwriter and musician, referred to as the "King of Skiffle", who influenced 1960s British pop and rock musicians. Born in Scotl ...
and
Jakob Frímann Magnússon
Jakob Frímann Magnússon (born 4 May 1953) is a Danish-born Icelandic composer, keyboard player, film director and producer. In Iceland he is best known as the keyboardist and one of the founders of the multiartistic band Stuðmenn, with which he ...
. Banks made an appearance on ''Romeo Unchained'', a 1986 album by
Tonio K
Tonio K. (born Vladamir Steven M. Krikorian, July 4, 1950) is an American singer/songwriter who has released eight albums. His songs have been recorded by Al Green, Aaron Neville, Burt Bacharach, Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, Wynonna Judd and Vanessa ...
. He also worked with
Ian Wallace in The Teabags, including
Jackie Lomax
John Richard Lomax (10 May 1944 – 15 September 2013) was an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his association with George Harrison, who produced Lomax's recordings for the Beatles' Apple record label in the late 1 ...
on vocals and
Kim Gardner
Kim Gardner (27 January 1948 in Dulwich, London – 24 October 2001 in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles) was an English musician.
He was part of the British Invasion of the US during the 1960s, and sound recording and reproduction, rec ...
on bass, the two played before with Tony Kaye's Badger,
David Mansfield
David Mansfield (born September 13, 1956) is an American musician and composer.
Mansfield was raised in Leonia, New Jersey. His father, Newton Mansfield was a first violinist in the New York Philharmonic. David played guitar, pedal steel guitar ...
on guitar and
Mel Collins
Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician.
Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...
on sax and flute. No recordings came out of that.
In 1993, Banks released ''Instinct'', a solo album of
instrumental
An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...
tracks with him playing all the parts.
Only a keyboard player, Gerald Goff, joined him for his next album, ''Self Contained'' (1995).
In 1997, Banks was mainly responsible for the release of a
double
A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another.
Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to:
Film and television
* Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character
* Th ...
live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
*'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD)
Music
*Live (band), American alternative rock band
* List of albums ...
Yes album, ''
Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970'' (renamed ''Beyond and Before'' in the US), a collection of appearances at the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
during 1969 and 1970, featuring the original line-up in all tracks and with a booklet containing the guitarist's account of those early days.
Another archival release was ''Psychosync'', a live Flash recording made in 1973 for the
King Biscuit Flower Hour
The ''King Biscuit Flower Hour'' was an American syndicated radio show presented by the D.I.R. Radio Network that featured concert performances by various rock music recording artists.
History
The program was broadcast on Sunday nights from 19 ...
and finally released in 1998.
Also, between 1995 and 1997 all three Empire albums were released (one per year). Banks also collaborated in 1995's ''Tales from Yesterday'' (a Yes tribute album) performing a version of the song "Astral Traveller" with
Robert Berry
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
; appeared on the album ''Big Beats'' in 1997; and played on 1999's ''Encores, Legends and Paradox'', an
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitar, producer) and Carl Palmer (drums, percus ...
tribute album. He contributed to 1999's ''Come Together People of Funk'' by
Funky Monkey (including keyboardist
Gerard Johnson who helped on a number of Banks' projects in the 1990s and who also worked with Banks' old bandmate Chris Squire).
Those collaborations filled the gap in his own recording career, until 1999, when the album ''Reduction'' was issued.
In 2000, Banks put out a collection of his oldest recordings (many previously unreleased) called ''Can I Play You Something?''.
The front sleeve of this last record showed an eight-year-old Banks posing with his first guitar. The track listing includes some early recordings by The Syn, Mabel Greer's Toyshop, and Yes, including an early rendition of the song "Beyond and Before".
A short track in the latter collection was called "Lima Loop". This is because
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...
,
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
, became a special place for Banks in recent years. Cecilia Quino, a Peruvian girl who was a Yes
fan, met and later wed Banks. They married in Lima, where the bride's parents lived. They later divorced.
Following an appearance by Banks and
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group The Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia.
Born in Stockport, Downes moved to London ...
together at the 1998 edition of Yestival (a Yes fan festival), the pair played some sessions and the possibility of Banks joining
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
was mooted. However, these sessions did not lead anywhere.
Banks appeared in small concerts by new young local bands, including the Yes tribute band Fragile. Later recorded appearances by Banks included ''
Jabberwocky
"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock". It was included in his 1871 novel ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the sequel to ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (1865). The bo ...
'' (2000) and ''Hound of the Baskervilles'' (2002), a pair of albums recorded by
Oliver Wakeman
Oliver Wakeman (born 26 February 1972) is an English musician, rock keyboardist and composer, best known as a member of Yes (band), Yes from 2008 to 2011, having filled the role of keyboardist previously held by his father, Rick Wakeman.
Biograp ...
(
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949) is an English keyboardist best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004, and for his solo albums released in the 1970s.
Born and raised ...
's son) and
Clive Nolan
Clive Nolan (born 30 June 1961) is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the development of progressive rock. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowland (1992–prese ...
. Rick Wakeman also narrates on the ''Jabberwocky'' album. Peter Banks also guested further on the Funky Monkey project.
Banks was initially involved in a reunion of The Syn in 2004 but left the band. After early talks in 2004, he was also not included in the current Flash reunion, which made their debut return at the Prog Day Festival 2010 with Flash bassist Ray Bennett taking over on lead guitar.
In late 2004, Banks formed a new improvising band, Harmony in Diversity, with
Andrew Booker and Nick Cottam (who had been working together as duo Pulse Engine). They played a short UK tour in March 2006, and released an album called ''Trying''. Booker left the band soon after. He was replaced by David Speight and the band continued to play further dates in the UK and Hungary in 2007. Banks was also planning a related project with keyboardist
Gonzalo Carrera
Gonzalo Carrera is a Spanish keyboard player who has performed in several progressive rock bands. He is best known as a former member of the British progressive rock bands Landmarq (2002–2005) and more recently Karnataka (2005–2010).
Carrera ...
.
In Gibson Guitar's ''Lifestyle'' e-magazine of 3 February 2009, Banks is listed as one of the "10 Great Prog Rock Guitarists". According to the article, "Before there was Steve Howe, there was Peter Banks. Artistic differences between Banks and singer Jon Anderson prompted Banks's departure from Yes in 1970, but in his little-known '70s band, Flash, Banks used an
ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial semi-hollowbody electric guitar, sometimes known as semi-acoustic. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES (Electric Spanish) series in 1958, it is neither fully hollow nor fu ...
to create several should-have-been prog rock classics. "Lifetime", from Flash's ''In the Can'' album, is his tour-de-force."
Death
Banks died of heart failure on 7 March 2013 at his home in
Barnet
Barnet may refer to:
People
*Barnet (surname)
* Barnet (given name)
Places United Kingdom
*Chipping Barnet or High Barnet, commonly known as Barnet, one of three focal towns of the borough below.
*East Barnet, a district of the borough below; an ...
, London. He was reportedly found after failing to turn up for a scheduled recording session. He was 65.
Discography
With the Devil's Disciples
* 1964: "You Better Move On"/"For Your Love" - Acetate
With the Syn
- Singles:
* 1967: "Created by Clive" / "Grounded" - Deram
* 1967: "Flowerman" / "14 Hour Technicolour Dream" - Deram
- Album:
* 2005: ''Original Syn: Complete History of The Syn 1967-1969''
With Neat Change
* 1968: "I Lied to Aunty May" - Banks briefly played with that band, and they recorded a single with Chris Squire guesting on back vocals and tambourine
With Mabel Greer's Toyshop
* 1968: "Images of You and Me" / "Beyond and Before" / "Electric Funeral" / "Get Yourself Together" and "Jeanetta" were included on Peter Banks' album ''Can I Play You Something?''/''The Roots of Yes''
With Yes
- Studio albums:
* 1969: ''
Yes''
* 1970: ''
Time and a Word
''Time and a Word'' is the second studio album by English rock band Yes, released on 24 July 1970 by Atlantic Records. It was put together several months after the release of the band's 1969 eponymous debut, during which they continued to tour ...
''
- Compilations :
* 1974: ''
Yesterdays'' (reissues from 1969 to 1970)
* 1991: ''
Yesyears
''Yesyears'' is the first box set by English progressive rock band Yes, released in August 1991 on Atco Records. After the group left Atco for Arista Records when they became an eight-man formation in 1990, the deal gave Atco the right to the ...
'' (Yes boxed set including reissues)
* 1997: ''
Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970'' (also known as ''Beyond and Before'' and ''Astral Traveller'')
With Flash
* 1972: ''
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Barry Allen)
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Wally West, the first Kid ...
'' (EMI-Sovereign UK / Cleopatra Records US; reed. 1993 CEMA Special Markets, & 2009 Esoteric Recordings label + bonus track) Tony Kaye guests on keyboards : Hammond organ, piano and ARP Synthesizer
* 1972: ''In the Can'' (reed. 1993 CEMA & 2010 ER + bonus tracks)
* 1973: ''Out of Our Hands'' (reed. 1993 CEMA & 2010 ER)
* 1995: First three albums were edited on CD on One Way Records
* 1997: ''Psychosync'' (1973 - live WLIR radio broadcast, ed. Blueprint)
* 2013: ''In Public featuring Peter Banks'' (Limited Edition Complete Live Concert 1973, AdequatEsounds)
With Empire
* 1995: ''Mark I'', recorded 1974, with
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
on drums on (2 track) and
John Giblin
John Giblin, is an active session musician, contributing mainly as an acoustic and electric bass player, and spanning genres of jazz, classical, rock, folk and avant-garde music. Best known as a studio musician, recording film scores and cont ...
on bass
* 1995: ''Mark II'', recorded 1977
* 1996: ''Mark III'', recorded 1978
* 2014: ''The Mars Tapes'', recorded 1979
* 2017: ''The Complete Recordings''
Solo
* 1973: ''
Two Sides of Peter Banks'', with
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
,
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis ...
,
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for his dexterous bass playing and booming baritone voice, Wetton first gained fame in the early 1970s.
Wetton was the singer and p ...
,
Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman (born 24 December 1946) is a Dutch guitarist. He first found international commercial success with the band Focus (band), Focus, which he co-founded with Thijs van Leer. After leaving Focus, he continued as a solo musician, adding ja ...
,
Ray Bennett and Mike Hough
* 1994: ''Instinct''
* 1995: ''Self-Contained''
* 1997: ''Reduction''
* 1999: ''Can I Play You Something? (The Pre-Yes Years Recordings From 1964 to 1968)'', combining solo material with material by The Syn, The Devil's Disciples, Mabel Greer's Toyshop and Yes
* 2018: ''The Self-Contained Trilogy'', re-release of ''Instinct'', ''Self-Contained'' and ''Reduction'' together
* 2018: ''
Be Well, Be Safe, Be Lucky... The Anthology'', compilation including previously unreleased material
With Harmony in Diversity
* 2006: ''Trying''
* 2018: ''The Complete Recordings''
With
David Cross
David Cross (born April 4, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, and writer known for his stand-up performances, the HBO sketch comedy series ''Mr. Show'' (1995–1998), and his role as Tobias Fünke in the Fox/Netflix sitcom ...
* 2020: ''
Crossover
Crossover may refer to:
Entertainment
Albums and songs
* ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album)
* ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987
* ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album)
* ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album)
* ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
'' - With Tony Kaye, Billy Sherwood, Oliver Wakeman, Geoff Downes, Pat Mastelotto, etc.
Guest appearances
* 1970: ''Nice to Meet Miss Christine'', by Chris Harwood, with Dave Lambert (guitar), Tommy Eyre (keyboards), Ian MacDonald (saxophone & flute), Peter York (percussion)
* 1971: ''Electric Shocks'' by
Roger Ruskin Spear
Roger Ruskin Spear (born 29 June 1943 in Hammersmith, London) is an English sculptor, multimedia artist and multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet, piano, guitars, percussion) who was a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
Career
After Sp ...
, with Peter Banks on two tracks ("Blue Baboon" and "Doctor Rock")
* 1976: ''
With Love With Love may refer to:
Music Albums
* '' ...with Love'', by Mary Byrne
* ''With Love'' (Amanda Lear album), 2006
* ''With Love'' (Bobby Vinton album), 1974
* '' With Love, Chér'', 1967
* ''With Love'' (Christina Grimmie album), 2013
* ''W ...
'' by
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
- Plays on "All God's Mornings" with Sydney Foxx on vocals.
* 1976: ''Guitar Workshop Volume Two'' (two solo tracks)
* 1978: ''Puttin' on the Style'', star tribute to
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James Donegan (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002), known as Lonnie Donegan, was a British skiffle singer, songwriter and musician, referred to as the "King of Skiffle", who influenced 1960s British pop and rock musicians. Born in Scotl ...
with
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher ( ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Due to his virtuosic playing, but relative lack of fame compared to some others, he has been referred to as "the greatest ...
,
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
,
Brian May
Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen (band), Queen. May was a co-founder of Queen with lead singer Fredd ...
&
Ringo Starr
Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...
* 1983: ''
Can't Slow Down Can't Slow Down may refer to:
* ''Can't Slow Down'' (Lionel Richie album) or its title song, 1983
* ''Can't Slow Down'' (Saves the Day album), 1998
* ''Can't Slow Down'' (Foreigner album), 2009
* "Can't Slow Down" (song), by Hedley from their a ...
'' by
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of funk band the Commodores; writing and recordi ...
- guitar solo on "
Hello
''Hello'' is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826. Early uses
''Hello'', with that spelling, was used in publications in the U.S. as early as the 18 October 1826 edition of the ''Norwich C ...
" (uncredited)
* 1995: ''Tales from Yesterday'', Yes tribute album
* 1997: ''Come Together People of Funk'', by Funky Monkey
* 1999: ''
Jabberwocky
"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock". It was included in his 1871 novel ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the sequel to ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (1865). The bo ...
'', by
Clive Nolan
Clive Nolan (born 30 June 1961) is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the development of progressive rock. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowland (1992–prese ...
&
Oliver Wakeman
Oliver Wakeman (born 26 February 1972) is an English musician, rock keyboardist and composer, best known as a member of Yes (band), Yes from 2008 to 2011, having filled the role of keyboardist previously held by his father, Rick Wakeman.
Biograp ...
* 1999: ''Encore, Legends, & Paradox'', by various artists (project headed by
Robert Berry
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
and
Trent Gardner
Trent Gardner (1961 - 2016) was an American progressive rock musician and producer. He died on June 11, 2016.
Magellan (band) Discography
Music Video
''Icons'' - Music Video (2015)
Singles
* ''Icons'' (2015)
* ''25 Or 6 To 4'' (2014)
* ''Cynic ...
, with 10 covers of
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitar, producer) and Carl Palmer (drums, percus ...
, by 23 musicians including
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for his dexterous bass playing and booming baritone voice, Wetton first gained fame in the early 1970s.
Wetton was the singer and p ...
and some time
Yes members (Banks,
Igor Khoroshev
Igor Petrovich Khoroshev (russian: Игорь Петрович Хорошев; born 14 July 1965) is a Russian keyboardist, composer, and producer best known for being a member of progressive rock band Yes from 1997 to 2000.
Biography
Khoroshev ...
,
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group The Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia.
Born in Stockport, Downes moved to London ...
))
* 2001: ''Marked for Madness'', by Michelle Young
* 2001: ''Angels & Ghosts'', by Ray Bennett
* 2002: ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'', by Clive Nolan & Oliver Wakeman
* 2002: ''Join Us in Tomorrow'', by Funky Monkey
* 2006: ''Return to the Dark Side of the Moon''
* 2011: ''
Electronic Church Muzik
''Electronic Church Muzik'' is the fourth Album#Studio album, studio album by Ant-Bee, released on February 28, 2011 by Barking Moondog Records. Recorded over the course of several years, it features musical contributions from members of Alice Coo ...
'', by
Ant-Bee
Ant-Bee (stage-name for Billy James) is an American experimental musician and writer. In his musical work, he is a psychedelic era revivalist, working with members of The Mothers of Invention; the original members of the Alice Cooper (band), Alic ...
* 2011: ''Muso & Proud'', by dB-Infusion
* 2012: ''The Prog Collective'', by
The Prog Collective
* 2012: ''Songs of the Century: An All-Star Tribute to Supertramp''
* 2012: ''Who Are You – An All-Star Tribute to The Who''
* 2013: ''
In Extremis
''In extremis'' is a Latin phrase meaning "in the farthest reaches" or "at the point of death."
In extremis or extremis may also refer to:
* ''Extremis'' (2005–2006), a six-issue story arc from the Marvel Comics series ''Iron Man'' (vol. 4), p ...
'', by
Days Between Stations
* 2013: ''Epilogue'', by The Prog Collective
* 2018: ''Undercover'', by Funky Monkey
References
External links
Official websiteOfficial MySpace pageHarmony in DiversityPeter Banks - Interview on The Marquee ClubPeter Banks biography, discography and album reviews, credits & releasesat
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
Peter Banks discography, album releases & creditsat
Discogs
Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...
Peter Banks biography, discography, album credits & user reviewsat ProgArchives.com
Peter Banks albums to be listenedas stream on
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Peter
1947 births
2013 deaths
British rock guitarists
Musicians from London
People from Chipping Barnet
Yes (band) members
Musicians from Hertfordshire
Lead guitarists
British male singers
British songwriters
British male guitarists
The Syn members