Yes bubble logo

Last updated
Yes bubble logo
Yes concert on bass drum 2010-12-01 (5253467599).jpg
Yes bubble logo
Product typeLogo
Produced by Roger Dean
Country England
Introduced8 September 1972;51 years ago (8 September 1972) on the Yes album Close to the Edge
Registered as a trademark in United States Patent and Trademark Office
Registration Number: 1199922 [1]
Filing Date: 13 June 1980 [1]
Registration Date: 29 June 1982 [1]
Topographic Music, Inc.(registrant) [1]
Jon Anderson, Chris Squire and Alan White (last listed owners) [1]

The Yes bubble logo, [2] also known simply as the Yes logo, is a logo designed by the English artist Roger Dean for the progressive rock band Yes in 1971. [3] The logo was first used on the Yes album Close to the Edge , when it was first released on 8 September 1972. [4]

Contents

The original artwork for the logo is held in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, [5] and the MAK Austrian Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. [6] The logo is listed in the NME's 64 of the Most Beautiful Band Logos. [4]

History

After Fragile , I felt Yes needed a logo and designed it without talking to them. For all I knew they weren't even going to come to me for the next album, but I still designed this logo. I did it over the course of a train journey to Brighton. I started with a notion that you can put these three letters together in an interesting way and by the time I got to Brighton, I'd pretty much done it. — Roger Dean [7]

Dean graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1968 and trained as a furniture designer. He went on to design chairs, interiors and houses, including the “retreat pod” featured in the Stanley Kubrick movie A Clockwork Orange , and the seating for the club Upstairs @ Ronnie's at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, [8] although he is best known as an album cover designer. [3] Dean received a commission from Richard Branson to design a new logo for the newly formed Virgin Records in 1970. The Virgin Records logo, also known as the Gemini logo or the Virgin Twins logo, featured Siamese twins sitting by a tree with a long-tailed dragon by their feet. [8] A variation of this logo was also used for Caroline Records, which was a subsidiary company of Virgin Records. [8]

Dean's first work for Yes was to design the album cover for Fragile , that same year he also designed the bubble logo for the band's next studio album, Close to the Edge . Dean came up with the logo without the band's knowledge and before they had started working on Close to the Edge. He sketched it out during a train journey from London to Brighton with the idea that the three letters could be put together "in an interesting way". Upon Dean's arrival in Brighton, he had finished it. [9] [10] He also began designing stage sets for the band in 1972, which mirrored the sleeve design on the album. [3]

During a signing, someone asked me to do the Yes logo so I started to draw the square logo and he said 'no, no, no...I want the famous logo, the bubble logo.' Well, I told him, 'I can't remember how to do it.' The truth is, I only ever drew things once. I had done six sketches of it, to get it right, but I only ever drew it once! — Roger Dean [11]

The original drawings of the bubble logo were first exhibited in London's Design Centre and since then they have been housed permanently in a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. [12]

Accolades

The bubble logo has been recognised by:

The bubble logo usage

Other uses

Further information

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yes (band)</span> English progressive rock band

Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by lead singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes throughout their history, during which 20 musicians have been full-time members. Since February 2023, the band has consisted of guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes, bassist Billy Sherwood, singer Jon Davison, and drummer Jay Schellen. Yes have explored several musical styles over the years and are most notably regarded as progressive rock pioneers.

<i>Close to the Edge</i> 1972 studio album by Yes

Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 8 September 1972 by Atlantic Records, and is their last album of the 1970s to feature their original drummer Bill Bruford. After scoring a commercial and critical hit with Fragile and touring the album, Yes regrouped to prepare material for a follow-up, ideas for which had been put down some months before. The album's centrepiece is the 18-minute title track, with themes and lyrics inspired by the Herman Hesse novel Siddhartha. Side two contains two non-conceptual tracks, the folk-inspired "And You and I" and the comparatively straightforward rocker "Siberian Khatru". Bruford found the album particularly laborious to make, which culminated in his decision to quit the band after it was recorded, to join King Crimson.

<i>Tales from Topographic Oceans</i> 1973 studio album by Yes

Tales from Topographic Oceans is the sixth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 7 December 1973 by Atlantic Records. It is their first studio album to feature drummer Alan White, who had replaced Bill Bruford the previous year. Frontman Jon Anderson devised its concept during the Close to the Edge Tour, when he read a footnote in Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda that describes four bodies of Hindu texts about a specific field of knowledge, collectively named shastras–śruti, smriti, puranas, and tantras. After pitching the idea to guitarist Steve Howe, the pair spent the rest of the tour developing an outline of the album's musical themes and lyrics.

<i>Relayer</i> 1974 studio album by Yes

Relayer is the seventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in November 1974 by Atlantic Records. After keyboardist Rick Wakeman left the group in May 1974 over disagreements with the band's direction following their double concept album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Yes entered rehearsals as a four-piece in Buckinghamshire. They auditioned several musicians, including Greek keyboardist and composer Vangelis, before settling with Swiss musician Patrick Moraz of Refugee who incorporated elements of funk and jazz fusion to the album. Relayer is formed of three tracks, with "The Gates of Delirium" on side one and "Sound Chaser" and "To Be Over" on side two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Dean (artist)</span> English artist, designer and publisher (born 1944)

William Roger Dean is an English artist, designer, and publisher. He began painting posters and album covers for musicians in the late 1960s. The groups for whom he did the most art are the English rock bands Yes and Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan White (Yes drummer)</span> English rock drummer (1949–2022)

Alan White was an English drummer, best known for his almost 50-year tenure in the progressive rock band Yes. He joined Yes in 1972 as a replacement for original drummer Bill Bruford. He was the longest-serving member of the band and the only member besides original bassist Chris Squire never to leave.

<i>Union</i> (Yes album) 1991 studio album by Yes

Union is the thirteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 30 April 1991 by Arista Records. Production began following the amalgamation of two bands that featured previous and then-current members of Yes: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH), consisting of vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and guitarist Steve Howe, and Yes, comprised at that time of bassist and vocalist Chris Squire, guitarist and vocalist Trevor Rabin, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Alan White. The eight musicians signed with Arista and a combination of unfinished tracks by both groups were selected for Union. The album's sessions were problematic from the start, including disagreements between some of the musicians regarding the "merger" of the two bands, strained relations during the recording process, and decisions by the production team of Anderson and producer Jonathan Elias to bring in session musicians to re-record parts that Wakeman and Howe had originally completed.

<i>Going for the One</i> 1977 studio album by Yes

Going for the One is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 15 July 1977 by Atlantic Records. After taking a break in activity in 1975 for each member to release a solo album, and their 1976 tour of the United States and Canada, the band relocated to Montreux, Switzerland to record their next studio album. During rehearsals, keyboardist Patrick Moraz left the group, which marked the return of Rick Wakeman who had left to pursue a solo career after differences surrounding Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973). In a departure from their previous albums, Going for the One, with the exception of the fifteen-minute "Awaken", features shorter and more direct songs without an overarching concept, and saw Yes record with new engineering personnel and cover artists.

<i>Yessongs</i> 1973 live album by Yes

Yessongs is the first live album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released as a triple album in May 1973 on Atlantic Records. After completing their Close to the Edge Tour in April 1973, the band selected live recordings between February and December 1972 on their tours supporting Fragile (1971) and Close to the Edge (1972) for a live album release. They were then edited and remixed with their producer and live sound mixer Eddy Offord. Two tracks feature original Yes drummer Bill Bruford while eight tracks feature his replacement, Alan White, and three tracks use no drummer at all.

<i>Keys to Ascension</i> 1996 live album / studio album by Yes

Keys to Ascension is the fourth live and fifteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released as a double album in October 1996 on Essential Records. In 1995, guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Tony Kaye left the group which marked the return of former members Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman, thus reuniting them with vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White, a line-up that had last performed in 1979. The group relocated to San Luis Obispo, California to make a new album and to promote their reunion with three shows at the Fremont Theater, in March 1996. Keys to Ascension features half of the live set from the 1996 shows and two new studio tracks which marked a return to Yes writing longform pieces.

<i>Keys to Ascension 2</i> 1997 live album / studio album by Yes

Keys to Ascension 2 is the fifth live and sixteenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released as a double album in November 1997 by Essential Records as the successor to the previous live/studio album Keys to Ascension. After guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Rick Wakeman returned to the band in 1995, the group relocated to San Luis Obispo, California and started to write new material. The reunion of this particular line-up was promoted with three concerts at the city's Fremont Theater in March 1996, the five's first live performance together since 1979. Keys to Ascension 2 features the remaining half of the live set from the 1996 shows and five new studio tracks including two ones which marked a return to the group writing long-form pieces.

<i>Yesshows</i> 1980 live album by Yes

Yesshows is the second live album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released in November 1980 on Atlantic Records as the final album before the group disbanded in early 1981. Their first live album in seven years, it is compiled of recordings from their 1976, 1977, and 1978 tours from dates in North America and Europe with its mixing supervised by bassist Chris Squire.

"Siberian Khatru" is the third song on the album Close to the Edge by English progressive rock band Yes. Live versions of the song are included on the albums Yessongs, Keys to Ascension, Live at Montreux 2003 and In the Present – Live from Lyon. Multiple performances of the song are included on the 2015 boxed-set Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two, which features seven complete consecutive concerts recorded on the band's late 1972 North American tour.

"Heart of the Sunrise" is a progressive rock song by British band Yes. It is the closing track on their fourth album, 1971's Fragile. The compositional credits go to Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, and Bill Bruford, though keyboardist Rick Wakeman contributed some uncredited sections.

Rick Wakeman is an English keyboardist, composer and songwriter, most known as the keyboard player for progressive rock group Yes. His solo albums have sold over 50 million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saving My Heart</span> 1991 single by Yes

"Saving My Heart" is a song by British rock band Yes, written and produced by Yes vocalist and guitarist Trevor Rabin. It was the second single released from their 1991 "reunion" album Union, following "Lift Me Up". "Saving My Heart" peaked at number nine on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1991.

<i>Yessongs</i> (film) 1975 video by Yes

Yessongs is a concert film by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London on 15 and 16 December 1972 during the band's Close to the Edge Tour, and features the line-up of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White. The video was produced by David Speechley, directed by Peter Neal, and co-edited by Howe's brother Philip. The film was arranged at short notice, which affected the quality of filming as a result, and originally a private memento for the band to document their two performances at the Rainbow before they agreed for its theatrical release.

Steve Howe is an English guitarist, active since 1964. He is best known for his tenures with the rock groups Yes and Asia, including his solo albums.

<i>Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two</i> 2015 box set by Yes

Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two is a 14-CD live album box set from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 25 May 2015 on Rhino Records. The album consists of seven complete shows recorded in 1972 during the band's Close to the Edge tour. A 2-CD/3-LP set of highlight performances from the seven shows was released as Progeny: Highlights from Seventy-Two. Every show includes the same setlist.

<i>Topographic Drama – Live Across America</i> 2017 live album by Yes

Topographic Drama – Live Across America is a double live album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 24 November 2017 by Rhino Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Image Trademark with Serial Number 73266222". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  2. "Yes 35th Anniversary Bubble Logo I, 2003". San Francisco Art Exchange . Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Yes Logo". Victoria and Albert Museum . 5 April 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Anderson, Sarah (5 April 2011). "64 Of The Most Beautiful Band Logos". NME . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. "Roger Dean". HarperCollins . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  6. "Roger Dean". San Francisco Art Exchange . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  7. "Roger Dean: How I designed the Yes classic Close To The Edge". www.loudersound.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "Time to Give Prog Rock's Artist-In-Residence Roger Dean His Due". www.dangerousminds.net. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  9. Smith, Sid (17 October 2016). "Roger Dean: How I designed the Yes classic Close To The Edge". Team Rock. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  10. Tiano, Mike (2008). "NFTE #308: Conversation with Roger Dean from 3 September 2008". Notes from the Edge. Archived from the original on 2 November 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  11. "Roger Dean: The man behind the fantastical Yes album covers". www.mcall.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  12. "Roger Dean Biography". Trading Boundaries Ltd. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. Wilkening, Matthew (6 August 2012). "Yes - Best Band Logos". www.ultimateclassicrock.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  14. "The 30 Best and Worst Band Logos of all Time - The Best Band Logos in History". www.tailorbrands.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  15. "60 Famous Band Logos That Rock". DesignCrowd. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2023.