Chris Squire 1948-2015

Chris Squire, the co-founder of Yes who played bass on all of their studio albums, has died at age 67 in his adopted hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.  Since May, he had been taking treatments for acute myeloid leukemia while on hiatus from the group.

Squire was born on March 4, 1948 in the Kingsbury section of London.  He left school after being suspended for "having long hair", and played in a series of bands including The Selfs, The Syn and Mabel Greer's Toyshop, before meeting singer John Anderson of The Electric Warriors.  He and Anderson then founded Yes, along with keyboardist Tony Kaye, guitarist Peter Banks and drummer Bill Bruford, with Squire and Banks also contributing backing vocals.  The band's lineup changed frequently over the years, with Squire remaining an official member.  He also was involved in solo work and some side projects.  Besides becoming one of rock's most renowned bass guitarists, he also occasionally played piano and harmonica.  Yes's upcoming tour, with Billy Sherwood substituting for Squire on bass, will go on as planned.  Banks became the band's first member or alumnus to pass away in 2013.

Read more at The Independent, the Mirror, Ultimate Classic Rock, Billboard and the Rolling Stone.

One of Chris Squire's most noted compositions was the instrumental The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) from the album Fragile.  All sounds on this track, other than percussion, are made by Squire on the bass.