**The Kansas Lead Singer’s Near-Joining of Yes: A Tale of Missed Opportunity and Musical Crossroads**
In the world of rock music, the lineup changes of iconic bands are often just as significant as the music they produce. This was certainly the case for *Yes*, the progressive rock giants whose constantly evolving lineup became as legendary as their groundbreaking sound. One particularly intriguing chapter in this story involved the lead singer of Kansas, who was invited to try out for Yes in the early ’90s, just after the release of *Big Generator* but before *Union*.
The singer in question was *John Elefante*, best known for his role as lead vocalist and primary songwriter for Kansas from the late ’70s through the ’80s. Known for his powerful voice and emotive delivery, Elefante was a central figure in Kansas’ most commercially successful years, contributing to iconic albums like *Point of Know Return* and *Leftoverture*. But in 1993, during an interview, Elefante revealed an unexpected and little-known episode in his career: he had been approached to join Yes during a time of major transition for the band.
### The Context: A Time of Turmoil for Yes
Yes had undergone a series of transformations throughout its career, with different members coming and going, often due to creative tensions or personal conflicts. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, the band was particularly volatile. After the release of *Big Generator* in 1987, the band was in a state of flux. Trevor Rabin, the band’s guitarist and principal songwriter at the time, had been the driving force behind the group’s more radio-friendly sound, a departure from their earlier progressive rock roots. However, the commercial success of *Big Generator* was tempered by a growing sense of dissatisfaction within the band, with Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson (the longtime frontman) increasingly at odds with Rabin’s direction.
The band’s struggles reached a peak by the early 1990s, and during this time, they began the process of forming a new lineup. Yes had already recruited new members and tested new configurations, but they had not settled on a permanent vocalist after Anderson’s departure in 1988. Rabin, ever the innovator, was looking for a new frontman who could match his vision for the band’s future sound.
### The Phone Call: A Missed Opportunity
John Elefante’s story begins in 1990, shortly after Yes had gone through a period of lineup instability. In an interview conducted in 1993, Elefante recalled the unexpected call he received from Trevor Rabin, the guitarist of Yes. Rabin, who was seeking a new vocalist to join Yes between the releases of *Big Generator* and *Union*, reached out to Elefante. At the time, Elefante had just wrapped up his tenure with Kansas, having taken the band to new heights with albums like *Power* and *Drastic Measures*. Rabin was looking for a voice that could fill the shoes of Jon Anderson—someone who could bring new life to the band, while also delivering the melodic, yet intricate vocals that Yes was known for.
Elefante remembered the call with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. He described how Rabin spoke with him about the possibility of joining Yes, a project that Elefante had long admired, though he had never considered himself a part of the progressive rock elite in the same way as Yes’ legendary vocalists like Anderson.
The offer was tantalizing. Yes, at the time, was a global name in progressive rock, and an opportunity to front the band represented a huge leap forward for Elefante’s career. He was no stranger to big challenges—having sung in the shadow of Kansas’ own legacy—but to step into the world of Yes was another level entirely.
But despite the allure of joining such an iconic band, Elefante was uncertain. He was content with Kansas and their evolving sound at the time, and he was also wary of the instability that had plagued Yes during their ongoing lineup changes. In the end, he opted not to join Yes, but the experience was a pivotal moment for him, offering a glimpse into a possible alternate reality where he could have been the voice of one of progressive rock’s most beloved bands.
### The Aftermath: Yes Moves On
After Elefante’s rejection, Yes continued their search for a new frontman. Eventually, they decided to bring in *Billy Sherwood*, a seasoned musician who had already contributed as a session player and was a member of the band during their 1994 reunion tour. Sherwood was part of the lineup that went on to record *Union*, the band’s 1991 album, which was a sort of compromise between the different factions of Yes—combining elements of both the Rabin-era and the more classical Yes sound. *Union* was notable not just for the inclusion of multiple band members from various periods of Yes’ history but also for being the album that brought the band back into the limelight after a period of relative commercial quiet.
However, the lineup changes didn’t stop there. Yes continued to evolve, with various vocalists, including Anderson, Sherwood, and others, coming in and out of the picture over the years. By the time Elefante had declined the offer, Yes had already settled into a new chapter, one that would see them experiment with yet another shift in sound.
### The Kansas Alternative
While Elefante turned down the opportunity to join Yes, his decision ultimately did not hinder his musical trajectory. He continued to work with Kansas, and despite the band’s evolving sound throughout the ’90s, Elefante played a pivotal role in keeping the band’s musical integrity intact during turbulent times. His voice remained one of the defining features of Kansas, even as the band experimented with a mix of hard rock and progressive elements.
In the end, Elefante’s legacy in Kansas was solidified as one of the band’s most distinctive and successful eras. His powerful vocal range, emotive delivery, and songwriting skills contributed heavily to some of Kansas’ most popular and enduring tracks, such as “Play the Game Tonight” and “Fight Fire with Fire.” As for Yes, they continued to find their footing without Elefante, with Billy Sherwood becoming a permanent fixture in the band’s lineup in the years following.
### The Bigger Picture: A Tale of Musical Crossroads
John Elefante’s brief moment of being courted by Yes is a fascinating chapter in the stories of two major rock bands. It serves as a reminder of how different trajectories could have unfolded in the world of music, where a single phone call can lead to new opportunities—or lead to roads not taken. While Elefante never became the voice of Yes, his career continued to thrive in Kansas, and Yes, for all their turmoil and turnover, found new ways to reinvent themselves.
Ultimately, Elefante’s near-joining of Yes is just one of many “what ifs” in rock history, a testament to the endless paths musicians face as they navigate their careers, sometimes unaware of the transformative moments that could change their futures forever.
