Does It Really Happen?

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the trippy vibes of "Does It Really Happen?" by Yes from their 1980 album Drama for all the Zoo Freaks out there. This track, a pulsating piece of progressive rock, stands out for its unique place in Yes’s history. It was part of an album that marked a bold shift, featuring a heavier, almost new-wave-inflected sound compared to the band’s earlier, more ethereal work. The song itself, with its driving rhythm and intricate instrumental interplay, was penned during a turbulent time when Yes was reinventing itself. In a 1980 interview with Melody Maker, bassist Chris Squire described the Drama sessions as “a pressure cooker,” noting that the band was determined to prove they could push forward despite major lineup changes. He called "Does It Really Happen?" a “snapshot of our hunger to evolve,” highlighting its energetic pulse as a reflection of the band’s renewed vigor.

Digging into the trivia, "Does It Really Happen?" was shaped by the unlikely fusion of Yes’s prog roots with the influence of The Buggles, the pop duo behind “Video Killed the Radio Star.” Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, the Buggles’ core, joined Yes for Drama after Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman left the band. Horn, in a 2018 post on his X account, reminisced about the song’s creation, saying, “We were kids in a candy store, blending synths with Yes’s epic sound. ‘Does It Really Happen?’ was our experiment in making prog danceable.” Fans on the Yes Fans Facebook group often debate the track’s bold departure, with some Zoo Freak-like devotees praising its infectious groove and others longing for the classic Yes sound. A 2020 thread on the fan site YesFans.com even speculated that the song’s lyrics, cryptic and questioning, might reflect the band’s uncertainty about their future at the time.

The story of Yes’s beginnings is as wild as a Zoo Crew vinyl marathon. Formed in London in 1968, Yes sprang from the creative minds of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Tony Kaye, and Bill Bruford. Anderson, a self-taught musician with a knack for soaring vocals, met Squire, a choirboy-turned-bassist, at a Soho club called La Chasse. As detailed on their official website, the two bonded over their love for complex harmonies and ambitious song structures, inspired by acts like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. They recruited Banks, Kaye, and Bruford, and Yes was born, gigging relentlessly in London’s underground scene. Their early sets, as noted in a 1970 New Musical Express interview, mixed covers of rock, jazz, and blues with original tunes, laying the groundwork for their prog-rock legacy. By 1969, their self-titled debut album dropped, earning praise for its bold arrangements, and by 1970’s Time and a Word, they were already pushing boundaries, even if commercial success was still a few years off.

Yes’s journey from scrappy London pubs to prog-rock pioneers wasn’t without drama—pun intended. The band’s early years were marked by financial struggles and lineup shifts, but their commitment to musical innovation kept them going. As shared on their Facebook page, Anderson and Squire’s vision was to “create music that felt like a journey,” a ethos that still resonates with Zoo Freaks spinning their records today. Fans can dive deeper into Yes’s world through their Instagram, where they post vintage photos and tour updates, or their X account, which shares band news and fan interactions. Beyond the official channels, the Yes Fans Facebook group is a lively hub for Zoo Crew-style discussions, while YesFans.com offers forums, news, and archival goodies. For the full Yes experience, the band’s official website is the go-to for tour dates, merch, and a detailed history that captures their enduring magic.