Alan White (Yes drummer)

For the former drummer of Oasis, see Alan White (Oasis drummer) .
Alan White
Background information
Born (1949-06-14) 14 June 1949
Origin Ferryhill, County Durham, England
Genres Progressive rock, pop rock, hard rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums, percussion
Years active 1967–present
Labels Atlantic
Associated acts Yes, Circa, White, The Syn, Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon
Website www.alanwhite.net

Alan White (born 14 June 1949) is an English rock drummer and songwriter best known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969. In all, White has appeared on over fifty albums with artists including John Lennon, George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Ginger Baker, and The Ventures.[1]

Biography

Early years

Born in Pelton, County Durham, White later moved to the nearby town of Ferryhill, County Durham by the age of 7 where he would spend the rest of his childhood.[2] White began learning to play the piano at age six and, after switching to drums, played publicly with a local band called the Downbeats at 13.[3] Later, he worked with a number of bands during the late 1960s, notably the Alan Price Set. In 1969, White received a call from John Lennon (he thought it was a prankster),[4] asking him to join the Plastic Ono Band for a show that became the hit album, Live Peace in Toronto 1969. He also performed with Lennon on the Imagine album and the single, "Instant Karma". When Lennon introduced White to George Harrison, he was asked to perform on the All Things Must Pass album. In late 1969, White joined Ginger Baker's Air Force with Steve Winwood.[5]

With Yes

White during a Yes concert
at Gran Teatro del Banco Central
del Paraguay December 1, 2010.

In 1972, White was touring with Joe Cocker when he received an invitation to join Yes, to replace Bill Bruford who had left to join King Crimson.[3] Three days after meeting with Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, White played at the first show of the group's US Close to the Edge tour. Despite the fact that White had spent time in the studio with the band and even tried playing some of the Close to the Edge material, it was still a substantial challenge for him to learn the band's live set in just three days.[6] White and the band gave each other three months to see if he fitted in, and some 40 years later, he has appeared on every Yes album since.

Alan White released his only solo album, Ramshackled, in 1976.

In addition to his drum playing, White has played piano and written music for several Yes albums.

New band projects in the 2000s (decade)

Alan White had guested with local Seattle band MerKaBa on a number of occasions and Alan White and MerKaBa also had links with another local band, Treason. In 2003, Alan White joined sessions for a new MerKaBa album, but these evolved into a new band, called White, and an album's worth of demo recordings under the name Loyal. As well as Alan, the band consisted of Kevin Currie (from MerKaBa; lead vocals), Karl Haug (from Treason); electric & acoustic guitars, lap steel), Steve Boyce (from MerKaBa; bass, guitar, backing vocals) and Ted Stockwell (from Treason and MerKaBa; keys, guitar). Stockwell left the band and, in April 2005, was replaced by Alan's former colleague in Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes. A new album, White, was recorded, partly based on the Loyal demos. The album was released in 2006, with a cover by Roger Dean.[7]

The band has played live (with various keyboardists) in the Seattle area. They were due to join the abortive More Drama Tour. The More Drama Tour, scheduled to begin in North America in August 2005, was to have seen three acts, The Syn, White and Steve Howe touring together, with Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White and Geoff Downes playing Yes material at the end of the evening (with Currie handling lead vocals). However, the tour was cancelled shortly before it was due to begin. Alan White later joined The Syn touring band for dates in the first half of 2006.[3]

Subsequently, Alan White has been working on projects with Billy Sherwood, notably in the initial line-up of Circa, with a third Yes alumnus, Tony Kaye.

In 2010, the band White re-emerged after a hiatus with a new line-up of Alan White, Haug and Boyce joined by two musicians from Yes tribute band Parallels, who have previously worked with Alan: vocalist Robyn Dawn and keyboardist Jonathan Sindelman.[7][8]

Family

White has been married for over twenty years to Gigi.[9] They have two children, Jesse[10] (also a musician) and Cassi.[10] He currently lives in Newcastle, Washington.

Award

Discography

Solo

With The Alan Price Set

With John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band

Single ;

Albums ;

With George Harrison

With Yes

With White

With The Syn

With Circa

With Tony Levin and David Torn

Other appearances and sessions

References

  1. ↑ Eder, Bruce. "Biography: Alan White". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  2. ↑ N/A, Simon. "EXCLUSIVE – Yes Interview Pt1". Rush on Rock. Rush on Rock. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  3. 1 2 3 "Alan White Biography". Drummerworld.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  4. ↑ "Alan White from Yes: What The Beatles mean to me". Musicradar.com. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  5. ↑ "Ginger Baker History Archive 1970". GingerBaker.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  6. ↑ [Welch C (2008), "Close to the Edge: The Story of Yes", Omnibus Press]
  7. 1 2 Pfarr, Tim (2010-08-31). "Alan White will rock Newcastle Days with his band, White". Issaquah Press. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  8. ↑ "White: The Band". Whitemusic.net. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  9. ↑ Pfarr, Tim (2010-09-02). "Yes, Alan White is ready to rock Newcastle Days". Newcastle News. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  10. 1 2 Vivinetto, Gina (2002-10-20). "A Classic Lineup for Classic Rock Series". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
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