1968

With effectively no amateur or semi-professional experience whatever, decides, on January 1st, to dedicate his gap-year between school and University to finding work as a full-time player in the rapidly expanding music industry.

After several false starts, co-founds Yes with Jon Anderson and Chris Squire following a response to an advertisement in the Melody Maker.

In October, he leaves Yes to resume his studies at Leeds University in Economics and Sociology.

Re-joins temporarily for the Cream Farewell Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in November, but shortly afterwards withdraws formally from the University, to pursue a fulltime career as a musician.