Into the Lens

Zoo Freaks, get ready to dive into some trippy trivia about "Into the Lens" by Yes, the psychedelic prog rockers who dropped this gem on their 1980 album Drama. This track is a wild ride, born from a bizarre mash-up of Yes and The Buggles, the new wave duo behind "Video Killed the Radio Star." When frontman Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman split from Yes over creative and financial disputes, bassist Chris Squire saw a chance to keep the band alive by recruiting Buggles members Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. In a Songfacts interview, Downes revealed that "Into the Lens" started as a short four-minute pop song they brought to Yes, but the band stretched it into a sprawling ten-minute epic, showcasing their knack for transforming ideas into prog rock odysseys. The song’s chorus, with its haunting "I am a camera" refrain, explores memories that flicker like fleeting snapshots or linger like indelible photographs, a theme that resonates with the Zoo Crew’s love for deep, reflective vibes.

Another juicy tidbit: the song’s title, "Into the Lens," never appears in the lyrics, which adds to its enigmatic allure. After the Drama tour, the Yes-Buggles hybrid fizzled out, but Horn and Downes reworked the track into a shorter version called "I Am a Camera" for The Buggles’ 1981 album Adventures in Modern Recording. Sadly, that album flopped, pushing Horn into a legendary career as a producer while Downes joined supergroup Asia. A post on X by @progrocksongs calls Drama one of Yes’s most controversial albums due to the Anderson-Wakeman exodus, yet praises tracks like "Into the Lens" alongside "Machine Messiah" and "Tempus Fugit" for their enduring power. For the Zoo Crew spinning this vinyl, it’s a perfect blend of prog complexity and new wave energy, ideal for freaking out the airwaves.

Now, let’s rewind to how Yes got their start, a tale as colorful as a tie-dye tapestry. Formed in London in 1968, Yes emerged from the creative sparks of singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and guitarist Peter Banks. According to their Wikipedia bio, the band began by blending original songs with covers of rock, pop, blues, and jazz, as heard on their debut albums Yes (1969) and Time and a Word (1970). Their early gigs in London’s underground clubs honed a sound that pushed boundaries, setting the stage for their pioneering role in progressive rock. By 1970, they shifted toward the intricate, ambitious style that defined classics like The Yes Album and Fragile. Over the decades, Yes cycled through 20 full-time musicians, including icons like Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Trevor Rabin, each adding their flavor to the band’s kaleidoscopic sound. Today’s lineup, featuring Howe, Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood, Jon Davison, and Jay Schellen, continues to carry the torch.

Zoo Freaks looking to connect with Yes can find them at their official website, where you’ll get the latest on tours and releases. Their Facebook page is a hub for fan chatter and updates, while their Instagram serves up nostalgic photos and tour snippets. On X, Yes shares news and engages with fans, keeping the prog spirit alive. For deeper dives, check out fan-driven spaces like the YesFans Facebook group, where devotees swap stories and setlists, or explore YesFans.com, a fan site packed with forums and band history. These corners of the internet are perfect for Zoo Freaks to join the tribe and keep the Yes legacy spinning.