Peter Banks

Peter Banks (b. April 8, 1947) was the original guitar player of Yes. He was born in England and named Peter Brockbanks.

Early career

His father bought him a cheap acoustic guitar when he was still a little boy and Pete showed unsuspected devotion and ability with the instrument. As a teenager he learned how to play the banjo too. In 1966, shortening his name to Peter Banks, he and a fellow named Chris Squire decided to form a rock group, called The Syn, with their friends Clive Bailey (rhythm guitar), who would later be the co-composer of Yes' first single, and Andrew Jackman (keyboards), who in later years became an orchestral arranger for some Yes and Squire records. The Syn only lasted until 1967, but the group released two singles.

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In 1968 Peter played briefly with the band Neat Change (recording one single), but the London rock scenery wasn't too big in those days and so he found playing again with Squire in a new group, Mabel Greer's Toyshop, whose singer was Jon Anderson. Prior to Pete Banks joining the band, Squire and Anderson had recruited a keyboardist named Tony Kaye and one unknown drummer, Bill Bruford, an aspiring jazz musician. Banks suited perfectly to the mix and they all played some gigs together. This was the embryo of a new definite band, so the members searched for an appropriate name. It was then that Peter suggested they called the group "Yes", a very short and positive word. All parts agreed that the name wasn`t meant to be permanent, but just a temporary solution. Thirty six years later, the name remains the same.

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