Yes circa 1969, (left to right) Peter Banks, organist Tony Kaye, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Bill Bruford, and singer Jon Anderson. (Handout)
Former Yes guitarist Peter Banks has died. He was 65.
The rocker passed away at his home in London on March 8, according to a post on his website.
Former Yes star Billy Sherwood has confirmed the news via Facebook.com, 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 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.com, 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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