Legendary bassist Chris Squire was one of the founders of the progressive rock band "Yes", and was known for his dynamic and aggressive playing. He used the bass guitar as a solo instrument as opposed to an accompaniment instrument that is part of the rhythm section.
(Photo: Richard E. Aaron)
Let's tell you 20 important facts about him:
1. He was born on 4 March 1948 in north-west London as Christopher Russell Edward Squire.
2. His initial involvement in music began when he was a child, when he sang in the local church choir.
3. When he was 16 he was suspended from school due to the fact that he grew long hair. The school administration gave him money for a haircut, but he took the money and did not get a haircut, since he has not returned to school.
4. The inspiration to be a musician he got from "the Beatles".
5. During the 1960s Squire was "a friend" of the drug LSD. In one of the cases in which he took the drug, he was hospitalized and recovery lasted several more months. During that time Squire practiced playing his bass guitar, developing his all-too-unique style that influenced many after him.
6. His first band was "the Selfs". It was formed in the early 1960s and played rhythm and blues music.
7. In 1965 he formed another band - "the Syn", a band that operated until 1967 and one of its highlights was the warm up of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience".
8. This band reunited with Squire during the 2000s and released two albums with him - "Original Syn" from 2004 and "Syndestructible" from 2005.
9. He formed the band "Yes" together with the singer Jon Anderson in 1968.
10. They added Peter Banks, Bill Broford and Tony Kay and released their first album in 1969.
11. Squire is the only member of the band to have played on all 21 of their studio albums.
12. He also played an essential and important part in creating the band's melodies and vocal harmonies.
13. Squire began his solo career in 1975 with the excellent album "Fish Out of Water".
14. This album as well as the song "The Fish Schindleria Praematurus" from 1971, earned Squire the nickname "Fish".
15. In 1981, Squire joined the "XYZ" project that included "Led Zeppelin's" Jimmy Page, Squire and Alan White drummer of "Yes". The band recorded several demos, but in the end the project did not last due to the fact that Robert Plant refused to join it. Two of Yes' songs "Mind Drive" and "Can You Imagine?" Born while working on the project.
16. Squire was the one who connected Trevor Rabin to the reunion of the Yes band which started as the band "Cinema" and eventually released the album "90125".
17. Squire has collaborations with a number of artists, the most significant of which is with Steve Hackett - guitarist of Genesis who has been featured on some of his albums. Squire's latest recording with the Hackett was released as part of the act's 2015 album - "Wolflight".
18. The two also released in 2012 the amazing album "A Life Within a Day" under the name "Squackett".
19. On May 19, 2015, "Yes" issued a notice stating that Squire was diagnosed with leukemia cancer. On June 27, 2015, Squire passed away at the age of 67.
20. Squire's very unique style of playing, inspired many good bass players and even significantly influenced the way this instrument was perceived by musicians. Among the artists that Squire influenced in his playing are Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Steve Di Giorgio, Steve Harris, Les Claypool, John Myung, Robert DeLeo, John Deacon and more ...