Alan White 1949-2022. Remembering the Yes and John Lennon’s drummer
The artist, that leaves a rich body of work, passed on 26 May 2022, aged 72, following a brief illness
Alan White 1949-2022. Remembering the Yes and John Lennon’s drummer
Alan White first came to prominence as a member of John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band in 1969 and joined the popular prog-rock band Yes in 1972. The artist, that leaves a rich body of work, passed on 26 May 2022, aged 72, following a brief illness
Alan White was born in the village of Pelton, County Durham, England on 14 June 1949, He joined his first band, a local group named the Downbeats, at thirteen, performing songs by the Beatles, the Searchers, and Gerry and the Pacemakers among others. In 1969, White received a call from John Lennon who invited him to join his Plastic Ono Band for their live performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival. Lennon had attended a Griffin performance in a club and wanted White to join the band of Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voormann. After the concert, White begun working with Lennon more often, including drum work on Imagine and “Instant Karma!” and also played on the acclaimed All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. Around the same time, White also joined the fifteen-piece band, Ginger Baker’s Air Force; while continuing to work with several other artists including Steve Winwood. He joined Yes in 1972 and since then played drums and percussion on over 40 studio and live Yes albums, additionally adding piano parts and collaborating on the songwriting. White was inducted as a member of Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. The band continued touring and recording until COVID surfaced, postponing their European tour to 2021 and then to 2022 and later to 2023.
Alan White died at his home in Newcastle, on 26 May 2022, aged 72, following a brief illness. RIP
Look back at Alan White performing with the Plastic Ono Band “Instant Karma” in 1970
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