Yes founder Peter Banks dead at 65

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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!!!"

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."

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