Yes Music Podcast · Kevin Mulryne and Mark Anthony K

709 - In conversation with Jay Schellen

·30 min·1 clip

Jay Schellen says Yes music needs a lighter attack, or he’d end up “in a plastic box.”

1. Yes Music Podcast episode 709 centers on Jay Schellen talking about Yes, the Fragile Tour, and a forthcoming July album. 2. Kevin Mulrine hosts, Mark Anthony Kaye is mentioned as co-host, and Jay Schellen is the Yes drummer whose touring and recording role matters here. 3. The episode asks what Jay’s place is in Yes now, how the tour differs in the UK and Europe, and what the new album sounds like. 4. Jay says he began with Yes at Alan White’s request for the Topographic and Drama tours, then worked again in 2017, 2018, and after COVID. 5. He describes Alan White’s death as a “devastating” phone call just before a European tour, and says the transition felt melancholy. 6. Jay says the Fragile Tour became special because the fans, the band, and the change in lineup created a cathartic atmosphere. 7. He compares UK touring with the United States and says he loves walking to rehearsal in Tavistock, eating a “full Monty” breakfast, and staying at the Beaufort. 8. He calls the UK and European audiences “amazing,” and says Japan is another favorite because he likes the culture and beauty. 9. Jay says touring has been natural for him since he was 16 or 17, and he jokes that Roger Dean told him he should “write a book” about his survival techniques. 10. He gives examples of those techniques, including carrying his own shower head so hotel water pressure stays consistent. 11. Jay says Fragile is rewarding to play live because he had studied “5% for nothing” for years and understood Bill Bruford’s pattern on the record. 12. He says the rest of the band carries much of the complexity while he holds the rhythm pattern, which makes the arrangement work. 13. He says the live set’s “Soon” sequence is loud enough that his earlier playing style would have been too aggressive. 14. He explains that Yes requires dynamics, especially in theater spaces where cymbals can sit close to John Davison’s head on the riser. 15. Jay says he now uses more finesse than force, while still enjoying the harder moments in “Soon” and the subtleties of “Heart of the Sunrise.” 16. He says he prefers Topographic and Fragile right now, and he calls the Topographic sides “an incredible piece of music to play.” 17. The interview style is relaxed and technical, with Kevin asking detailed questions about drums, set lists, and touring logistics. 18. Jay answers with long, specific examples, including hotel routines, kit changes, roto toms, and remote recording arrangements. 19. Listeners who like Yes lineup history, drum kit talk, and tour logistics will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners who want short, tightly edited music news may skip the long technical digressions.

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