Shock to the System

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some cosmic vibes as The Zoo Crew spins "Shock to the System" by Yes from their 1991 album Union. This track, born from the chaotic merger of two Yes factions—Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH) and the "YesWest" lineup—carries a wild backstory. Originally an ABWH track, it was meant to showcase the progressive rock prowess of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford, with Tony Levin on bass. However, producer Jonathan Elias stirred the pot by bringing in session musicians, including guitarist Jimmy Haun, who re-recorded Steve Howe’s opening riff for “sonic reasons.” Howe’s original parts were largely erased, and Haun’s riffs, some echoing the epic "Gates of Delirium" from 1974’s Relayer, took center stage. Rick Wakeman, the keyboard wizard, was so dismayed by the final mix that he couldn’t recognize his contributions and famously dubbed the album “Onion” because it made him cry, even tossing a copy out of his limo window in disgust.

The song itself rocks harder than many Yes tracks, with a crisp beat and Jon Anderson’s ethereal lyrics dancing between rebellion and mysticism—lines like “Shock to the politicians, you know they just got burned by the fire” hint at a fiery call to action. Despite the production drama, “Shock to the System” became a standout, praised for its energy, though some fans, like Kevin Mulryne of the Yes Music Podcast, felt it leaned more toward Anderson’s solo vibe than classic Yes. The track’s creation involved 11 keyboardists and a slew of backing vocalists, making it a Frankenstein’s monster of a song, stitched together across studios in Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York. Fun fact: the Union album, including this track, was part of a grand experiment that led to a 1991–92 tour with all eight Yes members performing on a revolving circular stage, a spectacle that fans still rave about on forums like the Yes Fans Facebook group.

Yes began in London in 1968, sparked by the creative collision of Jon Anderson (vocals), Chris Squire (bass), Peter Banks (guitar), Tony Kaye (keyboards), and Bill Bruford (drums). Anderson, a former milkman with a passion for singing, met Squire, a choirboy-turned-bassist, at a Soho club. Their shared love for complex harmonies and ambitious song structures laid the foundation for Yes. Early gigs at venues like the Marquee Club saw them blending covers of rock, jazz, and blues with original songs, as heard on their debut album, Yes (1969). By 1970, with Steve Howe replacing Banks, they shifted toward the progressive rock sound that defined classics like The Yes Album (1971) and Fragile (1971), driven by Anderson’s visionary lyrics and the band’s pioneering use of synthesizers. The 1970s cemented their legacy with epics like “Roundabout” and “Close to the Edge,” while the 1980s brought a poppier edge with Trevor Rabin’s influence, yielding the chart-topping “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”

Over five decades, Yes has navigated lineup changes, splits, and reunions, with 20 musicians passing through, including icons like Rick Wakeman and Alan White. Their resilience and willingness to evolve kept them relevant, from the symphonic 1970s to the digital sampling of the 1980s. Fans can dive deeper into their world through the official Yes website, follow their updates on Facebook, check out tour photos on Instagram, or join the conversation on X. For community vibes, the Yes Fans Facebook group and fan sites like ProgArchives offer spaces to geek out over setlists, bootlegs, and trivia. Whether you’re a longtime Zoo Freak or new to the Yes universe, “Shock to the System” is a gateway to their sprawling, adventurous legacy.