Introduction
The music world lost a true legend in 2015 with the passing of Chris Squire, the hugely influential bassist and co-founder of the progressive rock band Yes. Squire died on June 27, 2015 at the age of 67 after a battle with acute erythroid leukemia. His loss was deeply felt by fans and musicians alike.
As the bassist, backing vocalist and founding member of Yes, Chris Squire played an integral role in creating the band’s complex, dynamic sound. Along with singer Jon Anderson, Squire formed Yes in 1968 and shaped the group into one of the pioneering bands of progressive and symphonic rock. Squire’s propulsive, melodic bass lines were a signature element of the Yes sound. He was regarded by many as one of the best and most influential bass guitarists in rock music.
Over the course of Yes’ long and acclaimed career, which included classic albums like Fragile, Close to the Edge and Going for the One, Squire established himself as an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. His innovative, virtuosic bass playing style expanded the traditional role of the bass and helped drive Yes’ intricate music. Squire’s work with Yes earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Though his death at a relatively young 67 was tragic, Chris Squire leaves behind an enormous musical legacy.
Chris Squire’s Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Chris Squire was born on March 4, 1948 in Kingsbury, London. From a young age, he was drawn to music and started learning church organ as a child. In his teens, Squire played bass in some early bands around London, including The Selfs and The Syn. It was in The Syn that Squire would first cross paths with vocalist Jon Anderson in 1967.
The two quickly recognized their musical chemistry and soon decided to form a new band together. This new project started as Mabel Greer’s Toyshop before being renamed Yes in 1968. Squire’s fateful meeting and collaboration with Anderson marked the genesis of the massively influential progressive rock band Yes.
Founding Yes
Chris Squire’s musical journey began when he co-founded the progressive rock band Yes in 1968 alongside lead vocalist Jon Anderson. At the time, the band was called Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, named after a song Anderson had written. Squire and Anderson immediately clicked thanks to their shared love of vocal harmonies and experimental song structures.
After releasing an unsuccessful single, the band changed their name to Yes and brought in guitarist Peter Banks. With a full lineup in place, they recorded and released their self-titled debut album Yes in 1969. The album showcased Squire’s energetic and melodic bass playing on tracks like "Looking Around" and "Beyond and Before." While not a major commercial success yet, the album demonstrated the band’s raw talent and laid the groundwork for their signature prog rock sound.
In 1970, Yes released their sophomore album Time and a Word, which saw them incorporate an orchestra into their recordings. Squire’s bass once again stood out, anchoring tracks like "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed." Even at this early stage, his playing showed the melodic, contrapuntal style that would become his trademark and influence generations of bassists to come. As Yes continued evolving throughout the 1970s, Squire remained the band’s driving rhythmic force at the center of their complex and dynamic progressive rock masterpieces.
Chris Squire’s Iconic Bass Playing Style and Techniques
Chris Squire developed an iconic and highly influential bass playing style during his time with Yes. His technical proficiency, melodic sensibility, and creative counterpoint bass lines helped define the Yes sound and shaped the role of bass in progressive rock.
Squire’s signature bass guitar was the Rickenbacker 4001, known for its bright, punchy tone. The 4001’s unique construction allowed Squire to employ a hard picking technique to bring out the instrument’s aggressive sound. He also pioneered the use of roundwound bass strings which further accentuated the Rickenbacker’s treble qualities. This combination resulted in the distinctive ringing, harmonically rich bass tone that characterized Squire’s playing.
In addition to his tone, Squire stood out for his virtuosic, melodic bass lines and solos. He treated the bass more like a lead instrument, frequently riffing, soloing, and moving to the forefront of Yes’ complex arrangements. Songs like "Roundabout" and "The Fish" demonstrate Squire’s ability to construct bass parts as captivating and memorable as any guitar solo. His dexterous, fleet-fingered technique allowed him to play brisk walking lines, lightning-fast runs, and wide intervallic leaps around the fretboard.
Underpinning his impressive technical skills was an innate sense of melody and keen compositional instincts. Squire composed many of Yes’ most recognizable bass riffs and motifs, which anchor songs like "Long Distance Runaround" and "Heart of the Sunrise." The counterpoint relationship between his bass and Steve Howe’s guitar playing is a core component of the classic Yes sound. Squire’s bass often played in counterpoint to the guitar or vocal melodies, weaving an independent, contrapuntal line around the other instruments. This innovative approach to bass playing established the instrument as an equal melodic voice in the music rather than just harmonic support.
Key Chris Squire Bass Performances and Songs
Chris Squire’s bass playing was at the forefront of many of Yes’ most iconic songs. His melodic, virtuosic lines drove the complex arrangements and added a unique lead instrument voice to the band’s sound. Some of his standout bass performances include:
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"Roundabout" from Fragile (1971) – The instantly recognizable bass intro to this classic song is one of Squire’s most famous moments. His descending, syncopated riff establishes the 7/8 time signature and propels the song forward. Squire’s bass is prominent throughout, with a solo section showcasing his nimble fretwork.
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"Heart of the Sunrise" from Fragile (1971) – On this prog epic, Squire’s bass counters Bruford’s jazz-influenced drumming with fluid improvisational lines. His tone is aggressive, almost growling at times, as he solos during the instrumental breaks. Squire’s playing on this track exemplifies his lead bass approach.
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"The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" from Fragile (1971) – A bass showcase written and named by Squire, this instrumental track features his bass as the lead melodic voice throughout. He utilizes chordal arpeggios, screaming high notes, and lightning fast runs across the fretboard. "The Fish" highlights Squire’s skills as a soloist and composer.
Chris Squire’s Basses and Gear
Chris Squire’s thundering, melodic bass tones were an essential component of Yes’ pioneering progressive rock sound. His main bass was the Rickenbacker 4001, an instrument he helped popularize in rock music.
The Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar became Squire’s signature instrument. Its unique construction of a solid maple neck-through design coupled with a hollow body gave it a resonant, ringing sustain. The 4001 was also one of the first production basses to use stereo output, allowing Squire to send each pickup to a separate amp or channel. This enhanced his huge, complex bass sound.
Squire favored Rotosound roundwound bass strings for their bright tone. The combination of Rickenbacker bass and Rotosound strings gave his playing a sharp, biting edge that cut through the mix. This distinct tone defined Squire’s style.
On stage, Squire ran his Rickenbacker bass through multiple Ampeg SVT amp heads and speaker cabinets. The use of dual (and sometimes triple) amp rigs allowed him to dial in an aggressive, growling bass sound that anchored Yes’ live performances.
To sculpt and shape his massive bass tones, Squire utilized various effects pedals and rackmount units. This included chorus, flanging, compression, and harmonizer effects. The use of modulation effects in particular added depth and animation to his playing. Even with effects, his fundamental tone remained forceful and present.
Chris Squire’s choice of Rickenbacker basses paired with Rotosound strings was crucial in shaping his distinctive sound. His pioneering use of stereo outputs, multiple amp rigs, and modulation effects helped cement his status as one of rock’s greatest and most influential bassists.
Chris Squire’s Solo Work and Side Projects
Chris Squire explored creative avenues outside of Yes through his solo work and side projects over the years. His most notable solo release was his debut album, Fish Out of Water, in 1975. This prog rock record showcased Squire’s phenomenal bass talents and songwriting abilities. It contains two epic tracks, "Hold Out Your Hand" and "You By My Side," which highlight his melodic bass lines and creative arrangements.
Later in his career, Squire collaborated with Yes guitarist Billy Sherwood to form the duo project Conspiracy. They released two albums, Conspiracy in 2000 and The Unknown in 2003, which allowed Squire to revisit his prog roots in a fresh context. His bass playing shines on tracks like "The Element" and "Prelude/Angry/Furill."
In addition to his own projects, Squire frequently collaborated with other high-profile artists as a session bassist. Some of his notable appearances include playing on Steve Hackett’s Feedback 86 and Steve Howe’s Turbulence, as well as forming the one-off supergroup XYZ with Jimmy Page and Alan White. These outside collaborations displayed Squire’s versatility and reputation as an elite bassist.
Chris Squire’s Legacy and Influence
Chris Squire left behind an unmatched legacy as one of the most influential bassists in rock music history. His pioneering playing style and technical innovations fundamentally shaped the sound of progressive rock. Squire took the bass guitar to new heights and expanded its role from just a rhythmic backbone to a lead instrument.
As the bassist in Yes for nearly five decades, Squire was the driving force behind the band’s complex, dynamic sound. His melodic bass lines operated contrapuntally with the other instruments rather than just mirroring the guitar or keyboard parts. Squire’s lead bass style essentially created the blueprint for how prog rock bass would be played from then on.
Beyond just Yes, Squire inspired and influenced generations of rock and metal bassists. His use of a signature Rickenbacker 4001 bass and aggressive, distorted tone became a model for hard rock bass playing. Virtuosic players like Geddy Lee of Rush consider Squire a seminal influence on their own playing.
Squire also popularized the use of instrument effects like chorus, flange, and harmonizers to craft a multi-layered bass tone. This opened up new possibilities for the types of sounds and textures a bass could generate. The complex, rhythmically adventurous style of playing Squire pioneered allowed the bass to be just as technically accomplished as drums or lead guitar.
After his passing in 2015, Squire received countless tributes and remembrances from musicians around the world. He helped instill the mentality that bass could be far more than just a supporting instrument. The legacy he left behind continues to shape the approach of bassists across all genres of rock music today. Squire took bass into uncharted territory and his influence still echoes loudly through the playing of countless devotees.
Chris Squire’s Battle with Leukemia
In May 2015, Chris Squire was diagnosed with acute erythroid leukemia. The diagnosis came as a shock to Squire and his legions of fans. At age 67, the legendary bassist was still touring and recording new music with Yes. But the leukemia diagnosis forced Squire to take a break from the band’s upcoming album and tour.
According to Yes’ official statement at the time, Squire would be "undergoing treatment and recovery over the next few months." They assured fans that the upcoming album and tour would still go ahead, with Squire planning to rejoin his bandmates when he was healthy enough. Tragically, that would never come to pass.
Squire courageously battled the disease over the next few months. But on June 27, 2015, Yes announced the heartbreaking news that Chris Squire had passed away in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 67. The rock world mourned the loss of one of progressive rock’s founding fathers and most influential bass guitarists.
While Squire’s death was far too soon, he had packed an incredible lifetime of musical innovation and genius into his 67 years. His battle with leukemia near the end of his life could not erase or diminish his groundbreaking legacy and impact on bass playing. Squire changed both the sound and possibilities of the bass guitar. His towering influence would continue to shape and inspire generations of bassists to come.
Conclusion
Chris Squire left behind an unmatched legacy as one of the most innovative and influential bass players in rock music history. As a founding member and driving force behind progressive rock pioneers Yes, Squire pioneered and popularized a melodic, virtuosic, and prominent style of bass playing that expanded the role of the instrument. His skillful musicianship was showcased through iconic bass lines on classic Yes tracks like "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise" that remain touchstones for generations of bassists.
Beyond his work with Yes, Squire demonstrated his phenomenal talents as a bassist, songwriter and vocalist on his acclaimed 1975 solo album Fish Out of Water. His pioneering use of Rickenbacker basses along with his aggressive, harmonically rich playing style shaped the entire sound of progressive rock and made the bass an equal partner to the guitar. Squire’s legacy can be heard in the playing of countless rock, metal and prog bassists who followed in his footsteps. Even after his tragic passing in 2015 following a battle with leukemia, Squire’s massive influence continues to be felt, as he remains revered as one of the most important bass players in music history.