Frontiers Records to release YOSO debut album Elements
After overcoming various roadblocks, Billy Sherwood’s Yes/Toto hybrid project will finally see the light of day. Frontiers Records just announced that YOSO’s debut album, Elements will be released in July. If you haven’t heard, YOSO is comprised of ex-YES and Toto members, namely – Tony Kaye, Billy Sherwood and Bobby Kimball.
Rounding out the lineup are – Johnny Bruhns on guitar and Scott Conner on drums. I’m a bit disappointed to learn that guitarist Jimmy Haun will no longer be involved with the project. But his guitar work might still end up on the album since he just recently decided to step down from the group to concentrate solely on the lucrative ad/jingle world.
Here’s the official press release about the upcoming YOSO album:
Napoli, May, 2010 – The term “Super-Group” can only describe the band arising out of two of the most creative bands of the past 30 years: YOSO is formed out of TOTO’s brilliant lead vocalist Bobby Kimball and the creative force of former YES members, Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood, thus equalling the magic of YES with the voice of TOTO. However, YOSO is much more than a combination of two classic rock groups. The band’s debut album “Elements” – which comes together with a bonus live CD where the band plays some old and new classics – presents a fascinating combination of the sound of YES (“90125″/”Big Generator” era) and TOTO, with a very interesting and original sound that truly encompasses the styles.
“Elements” will see the light of day on July 2nd in Europe and July 27th in the USA, where the band has already scheduled a number of tour dates in support of the album’s release, on Frontiers Records.
Even though the band’s heritage is from 2 classic bands, YOSO intends to become its own identifiable entity in a very short time, YOSO’s collective mission is to make the next decade one where YOSO’s music will be held up alongside their classic rock backgrounds as a band as important as TOTO and YES.
Billy Sherwood recalls: “YOSO was started when I suggested to Bobby Kimball we should write some new music and form a band, we had been working together on various tribute projects I was producing and one thing lead to another, before too long we had 5 songs in the can and were well on our way to making a record and thinking seriously about taking it to the next level. Once there was a few songs underway the concept grew into the band we now have, YOSO.”
YOSO line-up was later rounded out with two amazingly gifted musicians: Johnny Bruhns as the guitarist and background vocalist and Scott Conner on drums, percussion and background vocals.
YOSO does indeed have the magic of YES and the voice of TOTO. However, in 2010 the band intends to convince fans of both bands that the brilliance of YOSO will be just as celebrated in the years to come.
