Stephen Lambe

Stephen Lambe

Stephen Lambe is a publisher, author and festival promoter. A former chairman of The Classic Rock

Society, Stephen has written ten books, including five about music. These include the best-selling

Citizens Of Hope And Glory: The Story Of Progressive Rock and two books about Yes: Yes On

Track and Yes In The 1980s. After a lifelong career in publishing, he founded Sonicbond in

2018, which specialises in books about rock music. With Huw Lloyd-Jones, he runs the Summer’s End

and Winter’s End progressive rock festivals, and he also dabbles in band promotion and tour

management. He lives in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.

Articles by: Stephen Lambe

Jon Anderson

“I said, ‘What do you mean, evacuate now? I just ordered my hors d’oeuvres!’” The twists of fate pushing Jon Anderson to finish his next projects – even if they take 30 years

By Stephen Lambe published

The sequel to Olias Of Sunhillow, a reunion with Roine Stolt, a musical featuring Kelsey Grammer… the Yes veteran says a lot is happening soon, although he’s less sure about 1000 Hands Part 2 and his memoir

Jon Anderson with the Band Geek in the studio

“We have to be true to ourselves and to the idea of Yes… we’re all aiming for the heart of the same sunrise”: Jon Anderson’s gratitude at returning from the edge of death to make latest solo album True

By Stephen Lambe published

80-year-old ex Yes singer recalls effectively passing in his wife’s arms – before a series of incidents returned him to health, creativity and a new appreciation of his past and future

Talk-era Yes

“I played it to Jon Anderson and his son. They were both crying – which was either a huge compliment or a disaster!” Trevor Rabin and Jon Anderson unlock the secrets of Yes's overlooked Talk

By Stephen Lambe published

30 years on, band members reflect on their last LP with Rabin and Tony Kaye, giving the overlooked masterpiece the re-evaluation it deserves.

Last Flight To Pluto

"We need to get a younger generation on board with prog. There’s a massive gap in the market waiting to be tapped." Last Flight To Pluto are ready to pick up the baton

By Stephen Lambe published

Welsh prog rockers Last Flight To Pluto tell the story of third album Random Karma, Fate And Destiny

The 90125 lineup of Yes

“Those who have heard it suggest it may not be the lost classic its reputation implies”: Six songs that didn’t make Yes’ 90125 tracklist

By Stephen Lambe published

Starting out as Cinema before resuming their established name, the band spent 18 months developing the album that saved them. Inevitably, not every track made the final cut

Yes

“I just knew Trevor Horn as a pop producer. When he turned up with a guitar, I said, ‘Is that a prop, or are you going to use it?’ We just didn’t hit it off”: How Yes’ 90125 became a triumph – despite starting with “the worst jam in history”

By Stephen Lambe published

After Drama resulted in the band’s complete collapse, a massive revamp seemed the only hope for any kind of future. But that epic challenge resulted in an equally epic album

Trevor Rabin

”I was pretty much ordered to go and play with Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes and John Wetton. I was told that if I didn’t, I’d be dropped”: Trevor Rabin’s challenging road to Yes

By Stephen Lambe published

From a dalliance with NWOBHM and Asia to sudden career jumps across the ocean, he’s always been far more interesting and varied than many realise

Cosmograf

"I often see debates about album lengths on prog forums, and I’ve always been of the view that a record must be as long as it needs to be." How Cosmograf made Heroic Materials

By Stephen Lambe published

With 2022's Heroic Materials Cosmograf's Robin Armstrong took inspiration from WWII veteran Geoffrey Wellum