On this day, 2 May 1975, prog rock giants Yes played the first of two nights at Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre on the band’s Relayer tour. Support was provided by Gryphon.
Relayer is the seventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in the UK on 29 November 1974 and in the US on 5 December 1974 by Atlantic Records. After keyboardist Rick Wakeman left the group in May 1974 over disagreements with the band's direction following their double concept album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Yes entered rehearsals as a four-piece in Buckinghamshire. They auditioned several musicians, including Greek keyboardist and composer Vangelis, before settling with Swiss musician Patrick Moraz of Refugee who incorporated elements of funk and jazz fusion to the album. Relayer is formed of three tracks, with "The Gates of Delirium" on side one and "Sound Chaser" and "To Be Over" on side two. This was the only studio release to feature Moraz on keyboards.
Relayer received a mixed to positive reception from contemporary and retrospective critics. It reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 5 on the US Billboard 200.
Yes fan Gerard made these comments about the gig on a Yes band fan site -
My first Yes show, still the best gig I've ever been to and the best Friday night of my life! (even without Rick).
I was 16 and with a bunch of school friends. About 6 weeks previously we'ed queued all night for our tickets. The box office was due to open at 10 AM on a Sunday but they opened at 08.30 on the advice of the police as the queue was a few thousand strong and growing fast. When they opened the box office bedlam ensued!
We got our tickets, those who turned up later had no chance.
At the gig Gryphon opened and were good. Then, at the first strains of Firbird Suite everyone rose and roared their approval. As the guys came on the stage there was a great surge to the front and those of us a little further back stood on our seats.
And that is where everyone stayed for the whole show, the place was bouncing. The Capitol, now demolished, held over 2,500 and the balcony was literally shaking through the whole gig. The atmosphere was absolutley electric! I came away with an Alan White "Ludwig" drum stick (which I still have) and a smug expression on my face as those in my group of friends who had seen Genesis two days earlier in Bristol freely admitted that Yes were in a different class. Three of us had been wise and purchased a second Yes ticket for the Bristol show on the following Wednesday.
Lineup: Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Patrick Moraz, Alan White.
Setlist :
Firebird Suite
Sound Chaser
Close To The Edge
To Be Over
Gates Of Delirium
Your Move/Mood For A Day
Long Distance Runaround/Moraz Solo
Clap
And You And I
Ritual
Roundabout
Sweet Dreams