Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born
musicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as a
guitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, vocalist and
songwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for the
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
progressive rock band
YesYes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.
Early years
Rabin comes from a family of classical musicians in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his father Godfrey was lead
violinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and also a
lawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Educated at
Parktown Boys' High SchoolParktown Boys' High School is a public high school for boys in Parktown, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. Parktown Boys' is well known for its emphasis on holistic education and in 2009 was rated as one of the top performing state schools in South Africa, and in the top ten schools in...
in Johannesburg, he took formal
pianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
training before discovering the
guitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
at age 12. He joined one of his first bands,
The Other, when he was 13. His parents encouraged his talents toward
rock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, although Rabin would maintain his interest in
classical musicClassical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
throughout his career. Rabin also briefly studied orchestration at the
University of JohannesburgThe University of Johannesburg came into existence on 1 January 2005 as the result of a merger between the Technikon Witwatersrand and the Rand Afrikaans University . Prior to the merger, the Daveyton and Soweto campuses of the former Vista University had been incorporated into RAU...
and trained to be a conductor; he later arranged and conducted for many artists in South Africa.
Rabin's early influences included
Arnold SchoenbergArnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
,
TchaikovskyPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
, Cliff Richard and the Shadows,
The BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and
Jimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. He also dabbled with progressive and
heavy rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
with his first band,
The Conglomeration, as well as joining the prominent anti-apartheid rock band
Freedom's Children for a year in 1972. During this same period, Rabin became a highly sought after session guitarist and
bassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, playing with many
jazz bandA jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
s in South Africa. When Rabin fulfilled his obligation to the South African Army at age 19, he served with the entertainment division.
Rabin formed his first major recording group,
RabbittRabbitt were a South African rock band formed in 1972, evolving from a band called The Conglomeration, consisting of members Trevor Rabin, Duncan Faure, Ronnie Robot, and Neil Cloud. Their successes included making it to the top of the South African charts with the hit "Charlie" in 1976. Rabbitt...
, along with Neil Cloud (drums), Ronnie Robot (
bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and
Duncan FaureDuncan Caldwell Faure is a singer from Pretoria, South Africa.-Early life:Faure was born in 1956 to William and Antonio Faure in Pretoria, South Africa. Faure was a championship swimmer around the age of ten. In 1975, at age 18-19, Faure joined the popular South African band Rabbitt...
(keyboards, guitar, vocals). Rabbitt evolved from
The Conglomeration prior to Rabin's year of military conscription in 1974. The band started to gain popularity in 1975 after appearing at Johannesburg's "Take It Easy" club. Their first single, released in 1973, was a cover of
Jethro TullJethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
's "
Locomotive Breath"Locomotive Breath" is a song by the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their 1971 album, Aqualung. It is notable for a long bluesy piano introduction and its flute solo by rock flute virtuoso Ian Anderson...
", which later appeared on their debut album,
Boys Will Be Boys released on Jo'Burg Records in 1975. The album features original songs mostly penned by Rabin.
Rabbitt's second album,
A Croak and a Grunt in the Night, was released in 1977. Rabin went on to win a South African Sarie music award (that country's answer to the Grammy Awards) for his co-production on the album. The band then gained with a short-term record distribution deal with
CapricornCapricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but Rabbitt were unable to tour abroad because of continuing international disapproval of South Africa's apartheid policies. As a result, Trevor Rabin decided to leave South Africa. Rabbitt went on to record the album,
Rock Rabbitt without Rabin before disbanding in 1978.
Rabin recorded his first solo album
BeginningsTrevor Rabin is the debut album by South African musician Trevor Rabin released in 1978. The South African release was entitled Beginnings and released in 1977...
in 1977 featuring Trevor on all instruments save drums. After an initial South African release on RPM Records it was re-sequenced with new material and given a different cover for release in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the US simply as
Trevor RabinTrevor Rabin is the debut album by South African musician Trevor Rabin released in 1978. The South African release was entitled Beginnings and released in 1977...
(Re-issued on CD in 2003 by
Voiceprint RecordsVoiceprint Records is a company and record label based in England, founded in 1990 by Rob Ayling. They specialise in re-releasing old material, especially progressive rock, but also have new releases, all under the Voiceprint and other imprints....
under the original title). While some songs were reminiscent of Rabbitt, Rabin's guitar playing was more prominent as it would continue to be on his successive solo albums. Trevor relocated to London in 1978 after establishing the production company Blue Chip Music and struck an international deal with
Chrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
.
In transition: the UK and Los Angeles
Along with a budding solo career, Rabin began working as a producer, having already began his career as a session player at age 16. Some of his prominent work included South African vocalist
Margaret SinganaMargaret Singana was a South African musician.Margaret Singana started out her 'career' by singing as she cleaned houses for people. She was a domestic worker that enjoyed her occupation...
("Where Is The Love?"), fellow South African
expatriateAn expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
Manfred MannManfred Mann is a keyboard player best known as a founding member and namesake of Manfred Mann and Manfred Mann's Earth Band.-Career:...
and his Earth Band, and
Wild HorsesWild Horses were a British rock band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Wild Horses was formed in the summer of 1978 by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson and ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain...
, featuring former members of
Thin LizzyThin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
and
RainbowRainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
. Rabin still found time to record his second album
Face to Face-Track listing:# I'll Take the Weight # Don't You Ever Lose # I'm Old Enough # The Wanderer # You # Now # The Ripper # Candy's Bar # Always the Last One -Personnel:...
, touring the United Kingdom in support of
Steve HillageSteve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
in late 1979.
Face to Face-Track listing:# I'll Take the Weight # Don't You Ever Lose # I'm Old Enough # The Wanderer # You # Now # The Ripper # Candy's Bar # Always the Last One -Personnel:...
had the melodic guitar style of his first solo album, but also took a more hard-edged approach on such songs as "The Ripper" and "Now".
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s first edition of their Record Guide criticised Rabin's music for its hook-ridden ballads but still gave his first two albums moderate ratings for their overall technical qualities.
With the growth of the Punk scene in the late '70s, power-pop and hard rock music had fallen out of fashion in England. Neither of Rabin's first two solo albums found any commercial success. He began looking for more fertile ground for what would be characterised in the U.S. as
album-oriented rockAlbum-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
(AOR).
In 1981, he released the album
Wolf-Track listing:# Open Ended # Heard You Cry Wolf # Do Ya Do Ya Want Me # Stop Turn # Lost in Love # Looking for a Lady # Pain # Take Me to a Party # She's Easy # Long Island...
, co-produced with Ray Davies of
The KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
.
Manfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
members Chris Thompson and
Manfred MannManfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
made vocal and musical contributions to the album.
Wolf-Track listing:# Open Ended # Heard You Cry Wolf # Do Ya Do Ya Want Me # Stop Turn # Lost in Love # Looking for a Lady # Pain # Take Me to a Party # She's Easy # Long Island...
marks Rabin's first collaboration with former
CreamCream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
bassist
Jack BruceJohn Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
and session drummer
Simon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
. Following the release of the album, Rabin severed ties with Chrysalis Records as he felt they did little to promote the album.
In 1981, Rabin moved to
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and signed with
Geffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
. He briefly recorded new material with a
rhythm sectionA rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
consisting of future
Quiet RiotQuiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
drummer
Frankie BanaliFrankie Banali is an American rock drummer, best known for his work with multi-platinum heavy metal band Quiet Riot. He has been the band's manager during since 1994. He played drums in the heavy metal band W.A.S.P., as well as with Billy Idol...
and bassist
Mark AndesMark Andes is an American musician, known for his work as a bassist with Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and Mirabal.-Early life:...
, who would later join
HeartHeart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
. Some of these demo recordings developed into the Yes songs "
Hold On"Hold On" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes, from their 1983 album, 90125. It reached number 27 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart in 1985.- History :...
" and "
Make It Easy"Make It Easy" is a 1981 song by the progressive rock band Yes. An early version of this song was written and sung by Trevor Rabin, originally as a demo titled "Don't Give In"...
".
Although Geffen Records dropped his contract in 1982, Trevor Rabin kept composing material for his projected fourth solo album in Los Angeles. As a keyboardist, he also considered touring as a session player for
ForeignerForeigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
. During this time, Rabin auditioned with the prog-rock supergroup
AsiaAsia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
in the run-up to their first album. Prior to that, Rabin was to have been part of a proposed supergroup with future Asia members
John WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
and
Carl PalmerCarl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
and also ex-Yes keyboardist
Rick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
.
Yes
Rabin's career briefly stalled after
Wolf-Track listing:# Open Ended # Heard You Cry Wolf # Do Ya Do Ya Want Me # Stop Turn # Lost in Love # Looking for a Lady # Pain # Take Me to a Party # She's Easy # Long Island...
. While in London, he met bassist
Chris SquireChristopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
and drummer
Alan WhiteAlan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
, longtime members of Yes, who had experienced their own difficulties following the apparent demise of the band in 1981. Liking one another's ideas, Rabin, Squire and White began collaborating under the name Cinema
in early 1982. Later on they enlisted original Yes keyboardist Tony KayeTony Kaye is a British musician.Kaye was the original keyboard player for the progressive rock group Yes from 1968 to 1971, and rejoined Yes from 1983 to 1995...
to complement their live performances.
Produced by yet another former Yes member, Trevor HornTrevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
, what was to become the 90125-Yes:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Tony Kaye – keyboards*Trevor Rabin – guitars, additional keyboards, backing vocals*Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion, backing vocals- Studio personnel :...
album came together over eight months in 1982. During his time in Los Angeles, Rabin had written several songs that formed the project's nucleus. "
Owner of a Lonely Heart"Owner of a Lonely Heart" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes. It is the opening track of their 1983 album 90125. Written primarily by Trevor Rabin, the song reached number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100 — to date Yes's biggest chart success...
" evolved into a riff-oriented song that Horn seized upon as a potential single. Atco Records liked the group's demo, but raised the question of whether they needed a separate vocalist. Horn was invited to join Cinema for this reason, but the producer refused Squire's offer.
With the question of a vocalist still up in the air, Squire encountered longtime Yes vocalist
Jon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
at a Los Angeles party and Anderson expressed interest in hearing what Cinema were working on. Squire acquiesced, and Anderson was so impressed by the songs he heard, especially "
Leave It"Leave It" is a song by Yes. It appears on their 1983 album, 90125. The song featured repeated single issues, most backed with remixes of the song or an a cappella version. The original version was occasionally placed as the B-side of "Owner of a Lonely Heart", and on another instance, the original...
", that he joined the group very late in the recording of
90125-Yes:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Tony Kaye – keyboards*Trevor Rabin – guitars, additional keyboards, backing vocals*Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion, backing vocals- Studio personnel :...
, contributing vocals and lyrics to the mostly already-written songs. Now featuring four former members of Yes (not even counting the producer), the band and record company (over Rabin's objections) chose to revive the Yes name rather than call the project Cinema, a name which in any case was already in use. The new Yes would meet with critical and commercial success, though not without some harsh criticism from fans of earlier incarnations of the band.
Both "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Leave It" became major hits, with "Owner" being the band's only #1 single in most major markets including the US. Along with heavy airplay of several other tracks, this helped propel 90125 to six million sales between 1983 and 1985, making it the most commercially successful of all Yes albums. Yes also received a Grammy award in 1984 for the instrumental "
Cinema"Cinema" is an instrumental song by the progressive rock band Yes, from their 1983 album, 90125. It won the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, the band's first Grammy.- History :...
". The band toured behind the album, in a series of well-received concerts across Europe and the Americas. In England and North America, many younger fans were introduced to the earlier Yes catalogue because of the success of the 90125
album and its popular singles.
Rabin almost did not make the 90125
tour, because of a swimming accident in Florida just before the 1984 tour kicked off. According to interviews from the period, Rabin was injured severely when a large woman hit his midsection while jumping into a hotel swimming pool. He endured an emergency splenectomyA splenectomy is a surgical procedure that partially or completely removes the spleen.-Indications:The spleen, similar in structure to a large lymph node, acts as a blood filter. Current knowledge of its purpose includes the removal of old red blood cells and platelets, and the detection and fight...
and returned to Yes in time to begin the tour.
9012Live† – Recorded at Edmonton, Canada at Northlands Coliseum, 28 September 1984, as part of the soundtrack of the movie "9012Live"‡ – Recorded at Dortmund, Germany, 24 June 19849012Live: The Solos reached #44 in the UK...
debuted as a live album and video package, taken from the group's 1984 shows in EdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Canada and DortmundDortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, Germany. On the former recording, Trevor Rabin contributed his acoustic guitar solo, "Solly's Beard". During this time he also appeared as a session guitarist on Frankie Goes to HollywoodFrankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
's debut album Welcome to the PleasuredomeWelcome to the Pleasuredome was the debut album by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, first released in the UK in October 1984 by ZTT/Island Records. Originally issued as a vinyl double album, it was assured of a UK chart entry at number one due to reported advance sales of over one million...
.
In late 1985, Yes began recording its next album with
Trevor HornTrevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
, but the production became bogged down due largely to personal differences among Anderson, Squire and Horn. Eventually, Rabin assumed control of the project, with Horn resigning as producer well before recording was complete. Rough tape demos have emerged with Trevor Rabin singing lead vocals on "
Final Eyes"Final Eyes" is a song by Yes. It appears on the 1987 Big Generator album. The song was apparently never released as a single, but reached position #20 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the '80s...
" and "Rhythm of Love."
Big GeneratorBig Generator is the twelfth studio album by progressive rock band Yes. It was released in 1987 on Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary label and was the follow-up to the massively successful 90125 album.- History :...
emerged in late 1987, with singles "Love Will Find a Way"Love Will Find a Way" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes, from their 1987 album Big Generator. It was released as the first single from that album, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1987. It also topped the U.S...
" and "Rhythm of Love." Both were modest chart hits compared to the singles from 90125
, though the album sold very well. The song "Shoot High, Aim Low" featured a dual lead vocal between Rabin and Jon Anderson. The 1988 Big Generator tour of the U.S. missed several dates after Rabin collapsed from influenza.
After the tour, Anderson left Yes for the second time, though his departure would prove short-lived. Trevor Rabin expressed a guarded neutrality over the split between Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, who briefly led rival groups consisting of Yes members. Squire held the Yes name, which now encompassed himself, Rabin, White and Kaye; Anderson formed
Anderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe was a project of four progressive rock musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe . They had played together in Yes in the early 1970s...
– a line-up he felt better represented Yes. A lawsuit between
AristaArista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
and
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
ensued.
While this legal wrangling was in progress, Rabin completed his fourth and final-to-date solo album,
Can't Look AwayCan't Look Away is the fourth studio album by former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin, released in 1989 through Elektra Records; a remastered edition was reissued in 2006 through Voiceprint Records...
, released in 1989. The album's lead single, "Something to Hold On To", earned a Grammy nomination for Best Short Form Music Video and topped the AOR charts for two weeks. But despite some positive reviews, and extensive marketing from
Elektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
neither "Something to Hold on To," nor Rabin's anti-apartheid ballad "Sorrow (Your Heart)" managed to crack the American Top-40 charts. Trevor Rabin toured between 1989 and 1990 with drummer
Lou Molino IIILouis Molino III is an American drummer. He is best known for many years working with Trevor Rabin. He was also a member of Cock Robin and Yoso with Bobby Kimball, Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Jimmy Haun....
(one of Rabin's best friends and a featured player on his soundtracks), fretless bassist Jim Simmons and keyboardist-composer
Mark MancinaMark Alan Mancina is a U.S. composer, primarily for Hollywood soundtracks, such as his collaboration with Trevor Rabin on the soundtrack for Con Air. He arranged many of the songs behind Disney's The Lion King including the Broadway musical...
.
The nationwide Can't Look Away
tour attracted a modest number of Yes fans, and has since been documented with 2003's Live in LALive in LA is a live album by Trevor Rabin recorded at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles during his 1989 Can't Look Away tour. The album was released by Voiceprint Records in 2003.-Track listing:# "Cover Up" # "Sorrow "...
, featuring interpretations of '80s Yes material, as well as highlights from his Wolf
album. Rabin's solo band also performed an instrumental version of a 90125
outtake, "You Know Something I Don't Know". On this tour, Rabin also unveiled part of "Lift Me Up"Lift Me Up" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes. It was the first single released from their 1991 "reunion" album Union. It reached the number-one spot on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in May 1991, and stayed at the top for six weeks...
", which would become the lead single for Union
. If this indicated any plans for a fifth Rabin solo album, these would be overtaken by further Yes-related events.
Also In 1989, Trevor was a session musician for BonhamBonham was a British hard rock band founded by drummer Jason Bonham in 1989, the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The band's most successful line-up included singer Daniel MacMaster, bassist/keyboardist John Smithson and guitarist Ian Hatton....
's album The Disregard of TimekeepingThe Disregard of Timekeeping is the debut album of British hard rock band Bonham, released in 1989 . It was produced by famed record producer Bob Ezrin, who has noted for working with Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd and Hanoi Rocks; in addition to his usual production duties, he also co-wrote three of...
and Mr. MisterMr. Mister is an American pop rock band most popular in the 1980s. The band's name came from an inside joke about a Weather Report album called Mr. Gone where they referred to each other as "Mister This" or "Mister That", and eventually selected "Mr. Mister." Mr. Mister may be considered as...
's previously unreleased album PullPull is the fourth studio album by American pop band Mr. Mister. It was recorded from 1989 to 1990, but due to the band's being left without a record company - and subsequent breakup - the album was left unreleased until 2010, when it was remixed and released...
.
In late 1990, Chris Squire's Yes line-up (still including Rabin) had been jettisoned by
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
after creative differences. During an interview with Mike Tiano in 2003, Trevor Rabin expressed considerable disdain for
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
executive Derek Shulman (one-time frontman of progressive rock band
Gentle GiantGentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
) who damned Rabin with faint praise as "the one who writes the hits."
Rabin would find himself once again in precisely that position when he received a call from Jon Anderson in 1991. After a gold album and lucrative tour, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe's second album for Arista had encountered a creative block. Anderson asked Rabin for creative input, but after Can't Look Away, Rabin did not have much new material on-hand. Even so, he submitted a demo of three songs, thinking the record company would select one. Instead, all three were accepted: "Lift Me Up", "
Saving My Heart"Saving My Heart" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes, written and produced by Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin. It was the second single released from their 1991 "reunion" album Union, following "Lift Me Up"...
" and "Miracle of Life".
Arista subsequently made what Rabin later described as a "42nd floor boardroom decision," and brought both Yes line-ups together—although at no point did the recording of Union
simultaneously feature all eight members of the touring group, and its sessions were augmented by a small army of session musicians. Rabin only appeared on one-third of the album, although two of his songs were released as singles – "Lift Me Up" and "Saving My Heart" – which were also performed live on the tour, on alternating dates. Trevor Rabin expressed dislike of the Union project, but still took part in the supporting tour, where he developed a lasting friendship with
Rick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, often accompanying his keyboard performances onstage.
To no-one's great surprise, the eight-person lineup did not survive the end of the tour. Howe and Bruford were the first to leave, the former at least partly due to unwillingness to share the spotlight with Rabin; and while Wakeman was very interested in working with the band and especially Rabin, he could not commit to dates. This effectively left Yes with the same lineup that had recorded "90125" and "Big Generator". 1992 and 1993 featured a series of negotiations between the short-lived
Victory Music, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
(not to be confused with a Chicago-based indie alt-rock outfit called
Victory RecordsVictory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
) and this so-called Yes West line-up. Phil Carson, responsible for
Emerson, Lake & PalmerEmerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
's comeback in 1992, invited the Yes 90125 lineup to record a third album. Rabin had also hoped the next Yes project would have involved Wakeman, but owing to managerial problems, the plan fell through in 1993.
As Victory Records' budget could not include an outside producer, Trevor Rabin undertook the mission. During sessions, he used a then-innovative digital hard-disk recording method now in common use in many studios. Although some Yes fans, and even Rabin himself, have criticised the limitations of digital sound, Talk
made music recording history with its technical achievements.
Talk
featured the final collaboration between Rabin and Jon Anderson, who had hitherto completed the last few albums after the principal writing. While "Endless Dream" would become something of a fan favourite, the album and tour did not fare particularly well commercially. Only reaching #33 in Billboard, Talk
achieved the weakest sales of any album Yes had released in over 20 years. Despite live exposure on Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, both "The Calling"The Calling" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes, from their 1994 album Talk. It was a rock radio hit for the band, reaching number 3 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.- Background :...
" and "Walls"Walls" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes, from their 1994 album Talk. It was a rock radio hit for the band, reaching number 24 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.- Details :...
" failed to catch as singles during the height of the popularity of alternative music. The 1994 tour in support of Talk, though generally well-received by those who attended, fared only a little better than the album, with some venues full and others at less than half capacity. While some fans—and Steve Howe—employed the press and Internet to blame Trevor Rabin's influence, certain tour dates were simply given low promotion by radio stations. Despite this mixed performance, numerous bootleg recordings exist, because the Talk
concerts were simultaneously broadcast on FM radio frequency—allowing Yes fans to make high-quality tapes. Trevor Rabin went on record as being supportive of this particular form of music-sharing.
Ultimately, the Talk
tour ended on 11 October 1994 amid recriminations. By the end of the following year, Rabin had left Yes and, except for a small number of special events such as a tribute to Horn, has not played with the band since. He did, however, finally get to work with Wakeman, contributing lead vocals and guitar solos to "Never is a Long, Long Time," from Wakeman's Return to the Centre of the EarthReturn to the Centre of the Earth is a 1999 concept album by Rick Wakeman. This work is a sequel to Journey to the Centre of the Earth, an earlier album by Wakeman released in 1974.-Track listing:# A Vision # The Return Overture...
in 1999.
In 2008, Trevor was contacted by Yes members and their new management inviting him to tour with the band in the later part of the year. “I appreciate the invite and miss the excitement of playing live. Unfortunately, my schedule just does not allow for it this year,” Trevor was quoted as saying.
As of mid-2011, Rabin is collaborating with Anderson and Wakeman on a new Anderson-Wakeman-Rabin album, and likely some concerts in 2012. They're writing music, and Wakeman said he hopes the album is completed by the end of 2011. The trio unsuccessfully attempted to recruit Bill Bruford to drum on the album.
Post-Yes
Following the 1994 tour, Trevor Rabin resigned from Yes to become a soundtrack composer.
Trevor Rabin has been a naturalised U.S. citizen since 1991. In 1996, he visited his native South Africa and performed Yes and Rabbitt songs during the Prince's Trust Concert. In 2003 Trevor Rabin released demo versions of pre-90125
Yes compositions and solo work, entitled 9012490124 is an album by Trevor Rabin consisting of previously unreleased demos and session work prior and during to his time in the progressive rock supergroup Yes. The name 90124 references Yes' 90125 album.- Track listing :...
, as well as Live in LALive in LA is a live album by Trevor Rabin recorded at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles during his 1989 Can't Look Away tour. The album was released by Voiceprint Records in 2003.-Track listing:# "Cover Up" # "Sorrow "...
, recorded at the Roxy in Los Angeles in late 1989. In 2004 Rabin performed in aid of the Prince's Trust with YesYes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
at the Wembley ArenaWembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in London, where he served as lead guitarist and lead singer. The show was a tribute to producer Trevor HornTrevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
. The concert DVD is called Slaves to the Rhythm."
Trevor Rabin has scored over three dozen films which include:
Bad CompanyBad Company is a 2002 action-comedy film directed by Joel Schumacher, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock.-Plot:...
,
Con AirCon Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
,
HomegrownHomegrown is a 1998 comedy / thriller film. It was directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and starred Billy Bob Thornton, John Lithgow, and Hank Azaria.-Plot:...
,
Armageddon,
Jack FrostJack Frost is a 1998 Christmas film, starring Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston. Keaton stars as the title character, a man who dies in a car accident and comes back to life as a snowman...
(in which Rabin appeared onscreen in two scenes),
Deep Blue SeaDeep Blue Sea is a 1999 science fiction horror film that stars Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J, and Samuel L Jackson. The film was directed by Renny Harlin and was released in the United States on July 28, 1999.- Plot :...
,
Gone in 60 Seconds,
Remember the TitansRemember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. Inspired by real events, the plot was conceived from a screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film starts as a new coach of the Titans, a football team previously coached by the...
,
The 6th DayThe 6th Day is a 2000 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as family man Adam Gibson, who is cloned against his will in the future of 2015...
,
The Banger SistersThe Banger Sisters is a 2002 American comedy film produced by Fox Searchlight Pictures about the reunion of two middle-aged women who used to be friends and groupies when they were young. The movie starred Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush...
,
Kangaroo JackKangaroo Jack is a 2003 American comedy film directed by David McNally, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Christopher Walken, Estella Warren and Adam Garcia...
,
Bad Boys 2,
The Great RaidThe Great Raid is a 2005 war film about the Raid at Cabanatuan, adapted from William Breuer's book of the same name. It tells the story of the January 1945 liberation of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the Philippine island of Luzon during World War II. It is directed by John Dahl and stars Benjamin...
,
Exorcist: The BeginningExorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 prequel to the 1973 film The Exorcist. This is the second version of the third Exorcist sequel. It was adapted by William Wisher Jr., Caleb Carr and Alexi Hawley, and directed by Renny Harlin...
,
National TreasureNational Treasure is a 2004 mystery adventure heist film from the Walt Disney Studios under Walt Disney Pictures. It was written by Jim Kouf, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Cormac Wibberley, and Marianne Wibberley, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and directed by Jon Turteltaub...
,
Coach CarterCoach Carter is a 2005 American film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines in 1999 for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results....
,
Glory RoadGlory Road is an American sports film directed by James Gartner, based on a true story dealing with the events leading to the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, in which the late Don Haskins – played by Josh Lucas – head coach of the Texas Western College led a team...
,
Snakes on a PlaneSnakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
,
The Glimmer ManThe Glimmer Man is a 1996 American action film directed by John Gray and starring Steven Seagal, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bob Gunton and Brian Cox.-Plot:...
,
Flyboys,
Gridiron GangGridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season...
,
Hot RodHot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
,
The GuardianThe Guardian is a 2006 action-adventure drama film starring Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, and Melissa Sagemiller. The film was released on September 29, 2006, and was directed by Andrew Davis, director of The Fugitive...
,
National Treasure: Book of Secrets,
Get SmartGet Smart is a 2008 American spy-fi comedy film based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's 1960s spy parody television series of the same name. The film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99...
,
Race to Witch MountainRace to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film and a remake of the original 1975 fantasy film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key...
,
12 Rounds12 Rounds is a 2009 American action film directed by Renny Harlin and produced by WWE Studios. The cast is led by professional wrestler John Cena, alongside Steve Harris, Gonzalo Menendez, Aidan Gillen, Brian J. White, Ashley Scott, and Taylor Cole...
,
G-ForceG-Force is a 2009 spy-fi comedy film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Walt Disney Pictures in Disney Digital 3-D. Written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, the film is the directorial debut of Hoyt Yeatman, whose earlier work includes contributions in the area of visual effects...
, and
The Sorcerer's ApprenticeThe Sorcerer's Apprentice is a 2010 fantasy adventure film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Jon Turteltaub, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the team behind the National Treasure franchise...
Along with several Grammy nominations and one Grammy win, Trevor Rabin also has received eleven
BMIBroadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
film score awards, and has received a lifetime achievement award from the Temecula Film Festival. His composition "Titans Spirit" from
Remember the TitansRemember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. Inspired by real events, the plot was conceived from a screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film starts as a new coach of the Titans, a football team previously coached by the...
has been frequently featured in NBC's closing montage and credits for their Olympics coverage. It was also played following United States President-Elect
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's speech upon winning the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, and served as the backdrop for the ensuing celebration. Rabin also composed the theme for TNT's coverage of the
National Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
in 2009 and the theme for NCAA's March Madness in 2011 (the latter being a remix of the longtime
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
college basketball theme).
Trevor Rabin appeared in an instructional guitar video titled “Instructional DVD for Guitar • Trevor Rabin,’’ for
Star Licks ProductionsStar Licks Productions was an instructional music publishing company conceived by Mark Freed and co-founded by Andrew Cross and Robert Decker...
.
On 9 July 2010 Rabin accompanied Yes for the first time in 6 years at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and played the encore, "
Owner of a Lonely Heart"Owner of a Lonely Heart" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes. It is the opening track of their 1983 album 90125. Written primarily by Trevor Rabin, the song reached number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100 — to date Yes's biggest chart success...
".
On June 23, 2011 Rabin was awarded at the
26th Annual ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards in the Top Box Office Films category for
The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Rabin's all-instrumental solo album is due for a January 2012 release on Voiceprint Records. The title is now being reported as
Jacaranda. Rabin discussed in a May 3, 2011 Billboard.com interview that he plays all of the instruments himself, with the exception of drums, for which he brought in noted jazz/rock drummer
Vinnie ColaiutaVincent Colaiuta is an American drummer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Republic, Pennsylvania, he began playing drums as a child and received his first full drum kit from his parents at the age of 14...
, longtime Rabin drummer and collaborator
Lou Molino IIILouis Molino III is an American drummer. He is best known for many years working with Trevor Rabin. He was also a member of Cock Robin and Yoso with Bobby Kimball, Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Jimmy Haun....
, and his son Ryan. It is now confirmed that
Tal WilkenfeldTal Wilkenfeld is a bass guitarist who has gained worldwide attention performing alongside some of rock and jazz music's most notable artists...
is also playing bass on some tracks. The cover art is by Hannah Hooper, a member of his son's band
GrouploveGrouplove is an American indie rock band which was formed in 2009 by Hannah Hooper, Christian Zucconi, Sean Gadd , Andrew Wessen and Ryan Rabin .-Biography:Grouplove began when Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi forged a friendship with...
.
Influences
Rabin names
Bernard HerrmannBernard Herrmann was an American composer noted for his work in motion pictures.An Academy Award-winner , Herrmann is particularly known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo...
as his favourite score composer. He has named
Arnold SchoenbergArnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
as one of his favourite classical composers, and him and other classical composers – Beethoven, Sibelius, Elgar and Tchaikovsky – as influences. He names
Jimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
,
Steve MorseSteven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
,
Jeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, and
John McLaughlinJohn McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
as his favourite guitarists.
Personal life
Rabin has been married for nearly three decades to Shelley May. They reside in Los Angeles and have one son, Ryan Rabin, who was a drummer for The Anthem and The Outline, and is currently in the band
GrouploveGrouplove is an American indie rock band which was formed in 2009 by Hannah Hooper, Christian Zucconi, Sean Gadd , Andrew Wessen and Ryan Rabin .-Biography:Grouplove began when Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi forged a friendship with...
.
Rabin's father was Jewish and his mother
converted to JudaismConversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
. He was raised Jewish and in a 2004 interview explained the profound influence Judaism has had on his life.
With Rabbitt
- Boys Will Be Boys (1975)
- A Croak and A Grunt in the Night (1977)
- Morning Light (maxi-single) (1977)
- 1972-1978: Limited Souvenir Edition (EP) (1978)
With Yes
- 90125
-Yes:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Tony Kaye – keyboards*Trevor Rabin – guitars, additional keyboards, backing vocals*Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion, backing vocals- Studio personnel :...
(1983)
- Big Generator
Big Generator is the twelfth studio album by progressive rock band Yes. It was released in 1987 on Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary label and was the follow-up to the massively successful 90125 album.- History :...
(1987)
- Union (1991)
- Talk (1994)
Solo albums
- Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin is the debut album by South African musician Trevor Rabin released in 1978. The South African release was entitled Beginnings and released in 1977...
(1978) original title for ZA release Beginnings (1977) (re-released 2003)
- Face to Face
-Track listing:# I'll Take the Weight # Don't You Ever Lose # I'm Old Enough # The Wanderer # You # Now # The Ripper # Candy's Bar # Always the Last One -Personnel:...
(1979)
- Wolf
-Track listing:# Open Ended # Heard You Cry Wolf # Do Ya Do Ya Want Me # Stop Turn # Lost in Love # Looking for a Lady # Pain # Take Me to a Party # She's Easy # Long Island...
(1981)
- Can't Look Away
Can't Look Away is the fourth studio album by former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin, released in 1989 through Elektra Records; a remastered edition was reissued in 2006 through Voiceprint Records...
(1989)
- Live in LA
Live in LA is a live album by Trevor Rabin recorded at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles during his 1989 Can't Look Away tour. The album was released by Voiceprint Records in 2003.-Track listing:# "Cover Up" # "Sorrow "...
(2003)
- 90124
90124 is an album by Trevor Rabin consisting of previously unreleased demos and session work prior and during to his time in the progressive rock supergroup Yes. The name 90124 references Yes' 90125 album.- Track listing :...
(2003)
- Jacaranda
Jacaranda is a forthcoming solo album by Trevor Rabin due for release in January 2012 . It is Rabin's first new solo material since his 1989 Can't Look Away album...
(January 2012)
Film scores
- Death of a Snowman (released in South Africa in 1976, released worldwide in 1978)
- The Glimmer Man
The Glimmer Man is a 1996 American action film directed by John Gray and starring Steven Seagal, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bob Gunton and Brian Cox.-Plot:...
(1996)
- Con Air
Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
(1997) (With Mark MancinaMark Alan Mancina is a U.S. composer, primarily for Hollywood soundtracks, such as his collaboration with Trevor Rabin on the soundtrack for Con Air. He arranged many of the songs behind Disney's The Lion King including the Broadway musical...
)
- Homegrown
Homegrown is a 1998 comedy / thriller film. It was directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and starred Billy Bob Thornton, John Lithgow, and Hank Azaria.-Plot:...
(1998)
- Armageddon (1998) (With Harry Gregson-Williams
Harry Gregson-Williams is a prolific British composer, orchestrator, conductor, and music producer. He is best known for his film scores, of which he has composed over sixty using electronic music and orchestral pieces...
)
- Enemy Of The State (1998) (With Harry Gregson-Williams
Harry Gregson-Williams is a prolific British composer, orchestrator, conductor, and music producer. He is best known for his film scores, of which he has composed over sixty using electronic music and orchestral pieces...
)
- Jack Frost
Jack Frost is a 1998 Christmas film, starring Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston. Keaton stars as the title character, a man who dies in a car accident and comes back to life as a snowman...
(1998)
- Deep Blue Sea
Deep Blue Sea is a 1999 science fiction horror film that stars Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J, and Samuel L Jackson. The film was directed by Renny Harlin and was released in the United States on July 28, 1999.- Plot :...
(1999)
- Whispers: An Elephant's Tale (2000)
- Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)
- Remember The Titans
Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. Inspired by real events, the plot was conceived from a screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film starts as a new coach of the Titans, a football team previously coached by the...
(2000)
- The 6th Day
The 6th Day is a 2000 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as family man Adam Gibson, who is cloned against his will in the future of 2015...
(2000)
- Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers is a 2001 drama/western film directed by Steve Miner. It is about a group of Texas Rangers set in the post-American Civil War era, rated PG-13.- Plot :...
(2001)
- American Outlaws
American Outlaws is a 2001 Western film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, and Ali Larter.-Plot:The southern army is trying to track down the Yankee army during the civil war...
(2001)
- Rock Star
Rock Star is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. It tells the story of Chris "Izzy" Cole, a tribute band singer whose ascendance to the position of lead vocalist of his favorite band was inspired by the real-life story of Tim...
(2001)
- The One (2001)
- Bad Company
Bad Company is a 2002 action-comedy film directed by Joel Schumacher, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock.-Plot:...
(2002)
- The Banger Sisters
The Banger Sisters is a 2002 American comedy film produced by Fox Searchlight Pictures about the reunion of two middle-aged women who used to be friends and groupies when they were young. The movie starred Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush...
(2003)
- Kangaroo Jack
Kangaroo Jack is a 2003 American comedy film directed by David McNally, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Christopher Walken, Estella Warren and Adam Garcia...
(2003)
- Bad Boys II
Bad Boys II is a 2003 action/comedy film directed by Michael Bay, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. It is a sequel to the 1995 film Bad Boys. The film is about two police detectives investigating the flow of ecstasy into Miami...
(2003)
- Torque
-Similarities to The Fast and the Furious:The film has often been called "The Fast and the Furious on Motorcycles", referring to the use of many of the same thematic elements between the two films...
(2004)
- Exorcist: The Beginning
Exorcist: The Beginning is a 2004 prequel to the 1973 film The Exorcist. This is the second version of the third Exorcist sequel. It was adapted by William Wisher Jr., Caleb Carr and Alexi Hawley, and directed by Renny Harlin...
(2004)
- National Treasure
National Treasure is a 2004 mystery adventure heist film from the Walt Disney Studios under Walt Disney Pictures. It was written by Jim Kouf, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Cormac Wibberley, and Marianne Wibberley, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and directed by Jon Turteltaub...
(2004)
- Coach Carter
Coach Carter is a 2005 American film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines in 1999 for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results....
(2005)
- The Great Raid
The Great Raid is a 2005 war film about the Raid at Cabanatuan, adapted from William Breuer's book of the same name. It tells the story of the January 1945 liberation of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the Philippine island of Luzon during World War II. It is directed by John Dahl and stars Benjamin...
(2005)
- Glory Road
Glory Road is an American sports film directed by James Gartner, based on a true story dealing with the events leading to the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, in which the late Don Haskins – played by Josh Lucas – head coach of the Texas Western College led a team...
(2006)
- Flyboys (2006)
- Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
(2006)
- Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season...
(2006)
- The Guardian
The Guardian is a 2006 action-adventure drama film starring Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, and Melissa Sagemiller. The film was released on September 29, 2006, and was directed by Andrew Davis, director of The Fugitive...
(2006)
- Hot Rod
The soundtrack was composed by ex-Yes guitarist, Trevor Rabin. Several songs by the Swedish rock band Europe are in the movie, including "Cherokee" and "Rock the Night." The full trailer contains three Swedish rock band songs, Europe's "Cherokee" and "The Final Countdown," and The Hives' "See...
(2007)
- National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
- Get Smart
Get Smart is a 2008 American spy-fi comedy film based on Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's 1960s spy parody television series of the same name. The film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99...
(2008)
- Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film and a remake of the original 1975 fantasy film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key...
(2009)
- 12 Rounds
12 Rounds is a 2009 American action film directed by Renny Harlin and produced by WWE Studios. The cast is led by professional wrestler John Cena, alongside Steve Harris, Gonzalo Menendez, Aidan Gillen, Brian J. White, Ashley Scott, and Taylor Cole...
(2009)
- G-Force
G-Force is a 2009 spy-fi comedy film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Walt Disney Pictures in Disney Digital 3-D. Written by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, the film is the directorial debut of Hoyt Yeatman, whose earlier work includes contributions in the area of visual effects...
(2009)
- The Last Shot (2010)
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a 2010 fantasy adventure film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Jon Turteltaub, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the team behind the National Treasure franchise...
(2010)
- I Am Number Four (2011)
- 5 Days of War (2011)
- The Movement (2011)
Guest appearances/collaborations
- Margaret Singana
Margaret Singana was a South African musician.Margaret Singana started out her 'career' by singing as she cleaned houses for people. She was a domestic worker that enjoyed her occupation...
– Where Is the Love (1976) – Producer, Arranger
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
– ChanceChance is an album released in 1980 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :Side one#"Lies " – 4:37#"On the Run" – 3:53#"For You" – 5:41...
(1980) – Producer
- Wild Horses
Wild Horses were a British rock band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Wild Horses was formed in the summer of 1978 by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson and ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain...
– Wild Horses (1980) – Co-Producer
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
- Somewhere in AfrikaSomewhere in Afrika is an album released in 1983 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :Side one#"Tribal Statistics" – 4:16#"Eyes of Nostradamus" – 3:28#"Third World Service" – 5:18#"Demolition Man" – 3:45...
(1982) - Guitar
- Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
– Welcome to the PleasuredomeWelcome to the Pleasuredome was the debut album by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, first released in the UK in October 1984 by ZTT/Island Records. Originally issued as a vinyl double album, it was assured of a UK chart entry at number one due to reported advance sales of over one million...
(1984) – Guitar
- Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
– 3 ShipsSo, are the three ships some mystical reference to three lengthy footnotes in a topographic poem? Has the musically complex mind of Mr. Anderson come up with another new concept which we shall struggle to get inside of to understand the real message of?...
(1985) – Guitar
- Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
– LiverpoolLiverpool is Frankie Goes to Hollywood's second album, released in October 1986 . It would be the band's final album of all-new material, and lead singer Holly Johnson would leave the band following the corresponding world tour, followed by a flurry of lawsuits from ZTT.The album was a commercial...
(1986) – Guitar
- Lisa Hartman
Lisa Hartman is an American actress and singer.After some minor television appearances, Lisa Hartman starred in the short-lived Bewitched spin-off, Tabitha during 1977-78...
– 'Til My Heart Stops (1987) – Guitar
- Marc Jordan
Marc Jordan , is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, session musician, and actor. Covering a wide variety of genres, he has written songs for a number of well-known artists, including Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Cher, Bette Midler, and Josh Groban...
– Talking Through Pictures (1987) – Guitar
- Bonham
Bonham was a British hard rock band founded by drummer Jason Bonham in 1989, the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The band's most successful line-up included singer Daniel MacMaster, bassist/keyboardist John Smithson and guitarist Ian Hatton....
– The Disregard of TimekeepingThe Disregard of Timekeeping is the debut album of British hard rock band Bonham, released in 1989 . It was produced by famed record producer Bob Ezrin, who has noted for working with Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd and Hanoi Rocks; in addition to his usual production duties, he also co-wrote three of...
(1989) – Bass, Background Vocals
- Seal – Seal
Seal is Seal's eponymous 1991 debut album and contained the UK singles: "Killer" , "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise", "The Beginning" and "Violet"...
(1991) – Guitar
- Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
– Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy WatersMuddy Water Blues: A Tribute To Muddy Waters is the second solo album by Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company fame.Although attributed solely to Paul Rodgers, this album features many other artists including Brian May, Buddy Guy, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Neal Schon, Gary Moore, Brian Setzer,...
(1993) – Guitar
- Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
– HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) – Guitar
- Various Artists – Crossfire: A Salute To Stevie Ray Vaughan (1996) – Guitar
- Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
– Wildest DreamsWildest Dreams is the eighth solo album by Tina Turner, released on Parlophone/Virgin in 1996. It went double platinum in the UK, France, Germany, and on the European charts.-Overview:...
(1996) – Guitar, Background Vocals
- Mark Mancina
Mark Alan Mancina is a U.S. composer, primarily for Hollywood soundtracks, such as his collaboration with Trevor Rabin on the soundtrack for Con Air. He arranged many of the songs behind Disney's The Lion King including the Broadway musical...
– Twister (1996) – Guitar (Track 7: The Hunt: Going Green)
- Various Artists – Merry Axemas Vol. 2 (1998) – Guitar, Keyboards
- Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
– Return to the Centre of the EarthReturn to the Centre of the Earth is a 1999 concept album by Rick Wakeman. This work is a sequel to Journey to the Centre of the Earth, an earlier album by Wakeman released in 1974.-Track listing:# A Vision # The Return Overture...
(1999) – Vocals, Guitar (song 12: "Never Is A Long, Long Time", with the London Symphony OrchestraThe London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
)
- Roger Hodgson
Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
– Open The Door (2000) – Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals
- Don Harper's Oceana Orchestra – Dream and Variations (2009) – Guitar on "Where Do We Go From Here"
- Mr. Mister
Mr. Mister is an American pop rock band most popular in the 1980s. The band's name came from an inside joke about a Weather Report album called Mr. Gone where they referred to each other as "Mister This" or "Mister That", and eventually selected "Mr. Mister." Mr. Mister may be considered as...
– PullPull is the fourth studio album by American pop band Mr. Mister. It was recorded from 1989 to 1990, but due to the band's being left without a record company - and subsequent breakup - the album was left unreleased until 2010, when it was remixed and released...
(2010) – Guitar, Bass *material recorded in 1989
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