Brother Of Mine

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "Brother of Mine" by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe from their live album An Evening of Yes Music Plus, and the Zoo Freaks are vibing to its progressive rock magic. This track, a standout from the band's 1989 self-titled studio album, is a three-part suite—"The Big Dream," "Nothing Can Come Between Us," and "Long Lost Brother of Mine"—clocking in at over 10 minutes of lush, emotive soundscapes. A cool piece of trivia comes from a 2020 post by Oliver Wakeman on X, where he shared finding a rare 10-inch single and mini-CD of "Brother of Mine" signed by all ABWH members. He noted the CD was a first pressing that mistakenly omitted Jon Anderson’s name, making it a collector’s gem. Another tidbit from ProgArchives highlights the song’s live performance on the album, praising Jon Anderson’s angelic vocals and Milton McDonald’s wonderful guitar riff, which added a passionate energy that fans felt deeply.

The creation of "Brother of Mine" has its own story, rooted in the band’s effort to recapture the classic Yes sound. According to Wikipedia, Steve Howe came up with the chorus while Jon Anderson was inspired during a songwriting trip to the Greek island of Hydra with Vangelis. The final section, "Long Lost Brother of Mine," actually originated as a piece by Howe and Geoff Downes for Asia, repurposed for ABWH. However, not everyone was thrilled with the final product; Bill Bruford, in a Wikipedia entry, expressed frustration over Arista’s Clive Davis editing the single version, omitting the hook and missing a chance for radio success. Despite this, the song’s live version, as heard on An Evening of Yes Music Plus, shines with Jeff Berlin’s fluent bass replacing Tony Levin, who was sidelined by hepatitis during the 1989 Shoreline Amphitheatre show. LouderSound notes its sparkling, organic feel compared to the studio’s dated ‘80s production.

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe formed in 1988 as a side project by four Yes alumni—Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe—joined by bassist Tony Levin from King Crimson. The group emerged from Anderson’s dissatisfaction with Yes’s pop-oriented direction in the ‘80s, led by Trevor Rabin. As detailed on Wikipedia, Anderson wanted to return to the progressive rock roots of Yes’s 1970s era. He reconnected with Howe, Wakeman, and Bruford, who had played together in Yes’s classic 1971-72 lineup (minus Chris Squire, who owned the Yes name). They recorded their self-titled album in 1989, with Roger Dean’s iconic artwork, and launched a world tour billed as An Evening of Yes Music Plus. Legal battles ensued, as Squire’s Yes sued to prevent ABWH from using the Yes name, but the band persisted, releasing music that echoed Yes’s ambitious, symphonic style. The project was short-lived, folding into a Yes “union” album in 1991, but it left a lasting mark on prog rock.

You can dive deeper into ABWH’s world through their official channels, though they share space with Yes’s legacy. Check out Yes’s official website, which covers ABWH’s history, and follow Yes on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates. Individual members have their own sites: Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe, with corresponding Jon Anderson Facebook, Bill Bruford Facebook, Rick Wakeman Facebook, and Steve Howe Facebook. Fans gather at places like ProgArchives and the YesFans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks might find kindred spirits discussing ABWH’s brief but brilliant run.