Alan White — the English artist and songwriter known best as the drummer of progressive rock legends Yes — has died. White's family announced that the artist passed away May 26 at his Seattle-area home after a brief illness. He was 72.
Earlier this week (May 23), Yes management announced that White would miss a rescheduled 50th anniversary UK tour in June behind the band's seminal 1972 album Close to the Edge "due to current health issues." Close friend Jay Schellen was announced as the band's drummer in his stead.
"Throughout his life and six-decade career, Alan was many things to many people: a certified rock star to fans around the world; band mate to a select few, and gentleman and friend to all who met him," White's family wrote.
White joined Yes in July 1972, replacing the outgoing Bill Bruford who had left to join King Crimson after recording Close to the Edge. The drummer then learned the band's catalogue over three days before hitting the road on a US tour behind the album. Speaking with Rolling Stone in 2019, White claimed he also received offers to join Jethro Tull and America that same week.
The 2015 passing of bassist Chris Squire made White the longest continuously serving member of Yes. His playing first appeared on 1973 triple live album Yessongs, while his final album with the group is 2021's The Quest.
Born in Pelton, County Durham on June 14, 1949, White began playing piano at age six, moving to drums at age 12. In the 1960s, he kept time for bands including the Downbeats, the Gamblers, Billy Fury, Alan Price Big Band, Bell and Arc, Terry Reid, Happy Magazine (later Griffin) and more, while also taking on work as a session musician.
In September 1969, White received a phone call from John Lennon, who was in search of a drummer to perform with at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival. As he told MusicRadar in 2009, "I was sure it was somebody playing a joke, so I hung up. A minute later the phone rang again, and sure enough, it really was John Lennon. He said he'd seen me play the night before in a club — I was gigging with a local band — he liked what I did, and he wanted me to play in Toronto for this peace event. I didn't have time to think, but of course I said, 'Sure.' You don't say no to John Lennon."
White played Toronto's Varsity Stadium as a member of the Plastic Ono Band, a performance that was released as Live Peace in Toronto 1969 later that year. He would go on to play drums on eight of 10 tracks for Lennon's sophomore album Imagine — including its iconic title track — and contributed drums and vibraphone to George Harrison's sprawling 1970 solo LP All Things Must Pass.
In 2017, White and his Yes bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush. At the ceremony, the band played "Roundabout" with Lee on bass, a performance you can watch below.
Earlier this week (May 23), Yes management announced that White would miss a rescheduled 50th anniversary UK tour in June behind the band's seminal 1972 album Close to the Edge "due to current health issues." Close friend Jay Schellen was announced as the band's drummer in his stead.
"Throughout his life and six-decade career, Alan was many things to many people: a certified rock star to fans around the world; band mate to a select few, and gentleman and friend to all who met him," White's family wrote.
White joined Yes in July 1972, replacing the outgoing Bill Bruford who had left to join King Crimson after recording Close to the Edge. The drummer then learned the band's catalogue over three days before hitting the road on a US tour behind the album. Speaking with Rolling Stone in 2019, White claimed he also received offers to join Jethro Tull and America that same week.
The 2015 passing of bassist Chris Squire made White the longest continuously serving member of Yes. His playing first appeared on 1973 triple live album Yessongs, while his final album with the group is 2021's The Quest.
Born in Pelton, County Durham on June 14, 1949, White began playing piano at age six, moving to drums at age 12. In the 1960s, he kept time for bands including the Downbeats, the Gamblers, Billy Fury, Alan Price Big Band, Bell and Arc, Terry Reid, Happy Magazine (later Griffin) and more, while also taking on work as a session musician.
In September 1969, White received a phone call from John Lennon, who was in search of a drummer to perform with at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival. As he told MusicRadar in 2009, "I was sure it was somebody playing a joke, so I hung up. A minute later the phone rang again, and sure enough, it really was John Lennon. He said he'd seen me play the night before in a club — I was gigging with a local band — he liked what I did, and he wanted me to play in Toronto for this peace event. I didn't have time to think, but of course I said, 'Sure.' You don't say no to John Lennon."
White played Toronto's Varsity Stadium as a member of the Plastic Ono Band, a performance that was released as Live Peace in Toronto 1969 later that year. He would go on to play drums on eight of 10 tracks for Lennon's sophomore album Imagine — including its iconic title track — and contributed drums and vibraphone to George Harrison's sprawling 1970 solo LP All Things Must Pass.
In 2017, White and his Yes bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush. At the ceremony, the band played "Roundabout" with Lee on bass, a performance you can watch below.