Mabel Greer's Toyshop

SUMMARY The band "Yes" was previously known as the psychedelically named Mabel Greer's Toyshop. The group, founded by Clive Bayley and Bob Hagger in London in 1966, included Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Tony Kaye, Jon Anderson and Bill Bruford before changing name to Yes in August 1968. Mabel Greer's Toyshop reformed in 2014 after Bayley met Hagger again after 45 years, and now includes bass player Hugo Barré. The band released a new album in March 2015, entitled "New Way Of Life" featuring Yes bass guitarist Billy Sherwood and ex Mabel and Yes member Tony Kaye. The music is marked by a combination of psychedelic, American blues and internationally-influenced arrangements with poetic lyrics. Early Years: Mabel Greer’s Toyshop was created by composer-guitarist and vocalist Clive Bayley, drummer Bob Hagger and bassist Paul Rutledge. Bob Hagger had previously met Chris Squire, bass player in the band “The Syn”, after having auditioned for them. The Syn broke up in 1967 and Squire was asked to join Mabel. Peter Banks also from The Syn joined soon afterwards. Then, early in 1968, Chris met Jon Anderson in a London Soho nightclub and invited him to join the band. Mabel worked in the London clubs and Universities around London, including The Marquee, Electric Garden, UFO and Happening 44. Some of the gigs are listed in a book by David Watkinson called “Yes: Perpetual Change” published by Plexus, London in 2001. David Watkinson talks about the beginnings of Mabel and Yes. A previous book by Chris Welch, published by Omnibus Press in the year 2000 also talks about Mabel and the evolution of the band Yes. One night, the 21st October 1967, they were seen at a club called Middle Earth in Covent Garden, London, by Jimi Hendrix and Chas Chandler. The disc jockey for the evening was John Peel who invited the band to his house in Fulham to discuss playing on his BBC radio programme called Night Ride, which they did on March 3, 1968. Some of the tracks eventually showed up on a compilation of British psychedelic rarities by Peter Banks and includes the original recording of “Beyond and Before” also featured on the first Yes Album along with "Sweetness" both co-written by Clive Bayley. There are a number of bootleg albums also available like "Moments" featuring Yes and Mabel on the same CD. The band also did some demo recording session with the well-known producer Mike Leander for MCA records. Tony Kaye then joined the band and Bill Bruford replaced Bob Hagger in July 1968. In August 1968, Mabel Greer’s Toyshop became “Yes”. Clive left the band in late 1968. One of the last gig's for Mabel Greer’s Toyshop was in May, 1968 in Highgate, London. The line-up was Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Peter Banks, Clive Bayley and Bob Hagger. The night was described by Bob on the inside cover of the CD “The Word is Live” released in 2008 on the fortieth anniversary of the band.

London, UK