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© Rex Features / Peter Banks in 1969

Yes founder Peter Banks dead at 65

Former Yes guitarist Peter Banks has died at age 65. The rocker passed away at his home in London on March 8, according to a post on his website.
Former Yes member Billy Sherwood has confirmed the news via Facebook writing, "Peter very recently played on the new prog collective 2 project I'm writing/producing, as well as the days between stations record I worked on. As a Yes fan ... this is sad news indeed. It was an honor to work with Peter on many productions. He will be missed!!!"

Bing: More on Peter Banks

Banks co-founded Yes with his former The Syn bandmate Chris Squire in 1968 and played on the group's self-titled debut album and the follow-up "Time and a Word." The guitarist quit the group in 1970 and formed a new band, Flash. He also performed and recorded with Zox & the Radar Boys, which featured a young Phil Collins.
Banks enjoyed two decades of critical acclaim as a solo artist with albums including "The Two Sides of Peter Banks" and "Instinct." He reunited with Yes in 1991 for a concert in Los Angeles and collaborated with his former bandmates on the 1997 album "Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969-1970." Paying tribute to the late guitarist via Twitter, collaborator and friend Steve Hackett writes, "I'm sorry to hear of Peter Banks' passing ... a great pal and a great guitarist."