The guitarist felt a calling to return to solo work, which he'll be doing for much of the year – so fans can look out for new music, a "unique" music retreat and at least two tours.

And he admits he was horrified when it was said that Yes had banned frontman Jon Davison from appearing with his own band Glass Hammer.

Howe – who's been replaced by Sam Coulson in Asia – tells Classic Rock's sister title Prog: "On the American tour they discovered that I wanted to stop doing the reunion.