Rush’s Geddy Lee recalls bittersweet moment onstage with Yes

Geddy joins Yes onstage at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 (Image credit: Mike Coppola - Getty)

Geddy Lee has looked back at performing with Yes at the 2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and called it a “bittersweet” moment.

Lee joined Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Alan White and Trevor Rabin onstage on the night Yes were inducted to play Roundabout at the ceremony, in place of late Yes bassist Chris Squire.

Lee previously called the occasion “an honour” – and at the weekend’s Rush Fan Day at the Rock Hall during a Q&A sessions, Lee looked back at the moment.

He said (via UCR): “I really did love playing that song with them. It was bittersweet for me, because Chris Squire was such a huge hero to me. The fact he wasn't there was a vacuum that no one can fill properly.

“I felt for his family, because I know that's all that was on their mind that day. I felt a real weight to pull it off. I practiced, as I usually do, like a crazy person, to make sure I didn't embarrass Chris by my performance.”

Lee adds: “The guys in the band were really sweet to me. There’s sort of two versions of Yes – I guess they had a schism at some point – so that was the first time they had been together again as a band in quite a while, so it was a little awkward at a few moments.

“But they all came together and they were very kind and indulged me when I kept wanting to play the song over and over again."

Just days after the induction ceremony, Anderson Rabin Wakeman changed their name to Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman, with vocalist Anderson saying: “It’s very simple – the fans want it, we want it, and it’s our right to use the name. Yes music is in our DNA.”

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Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.