Jon Anderson, the distinctive voice of progressive rock pioneers Yes, isn’t slowing down — even at 81. While he and his touring ensemble The Band Geeks prepare for a slate of 2026 concerts, Anderson is also pressing forward on a dream project he first conceived more than 25 years ago: an ambitious sequel to his 1976 solo debut Olias of Sunhillow called Zamran: Son of Olias.
In a recent interview, Anderson explained that the idea for Zamran first came from a conversation with his son, Damian, who suggested the follow-up long ago. “Why don’t you do Son of Olias?” Damian asked, sparking the seed of what would become an ongoing creative obsession for Anderson. Over the past two and a half decades, he has continued to write and assemble material for the project, seeing it evolve through phases of intense focus and periods of reflection.
“I just spent the last four years creating tons of music for it,” Anderson said, admitting that while he’s poured enormous effort into the album, he still isn’t sure when — or even if — it will be released. “Whether it will come out, I don’t know, but you just do it because it’s inspiring to create music.”
A Lifetime Project Revisited
The roots of Zamran: Son of Olias stretch back to at least the early 2000s, well before Anderson’s recent work with The Band Geeks. In interviews over the years, he’s described the project as sprawling, unconventional, and challenging to pin down. The concept draws inspiration from the mystical themes and narrative imagination of Olias of Sunhillow — a record Anderson wrote, produced, and performed almost entirely himself — but expanded on a much larger musical and story canvas.
Anderson told Ultimate Classic Rock that Zamran continues to occupy his creative life “and it’s still driving me crazy,” a testament to his perfectionist streak and his belief in the project’s artistic worth. The album has drawn contributions from musicians around the globe as Anderson pieces it together — not merely as a sequel, but as a vast, immersive musical world.
What’s Next in 2026?
While Zamran remains in progress with no official release date yet set, Anderson is far from dormant. He and The Band Geeks have announced a fresh run of tour dates for spring 2026, kicking off on April 17 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and currently set to run through May 7 in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Fans can expect Anderson to perform both classic Yes epics and selections from his recent solo work — including material from True, the 2024 album he recorded with The Band Geeks, and its accompanying live record Live – Perpetual Change, which captured the synergy between Anderson and his talented collaborators.
In addition to touring, Anderson is also connected with reissues of his solo catalog, with albums like Earth Mother Earth (1997) and Survival & Other Stories (2011) set for new vinyl and digital editions in March 2026, giving fans both new listeners and longtime followers an opportunity to revisit his broad body of work.
Still Creating, Still Curious
Anderson has never stopped exploring new musical landscapes — whether through the cosmic theatricality of Zamran, the deep roots of Yes material, or revisiting his solo recordings for a fresh generation. While Zamran: Son of Olias has become the stuff of storied legend among his most devoted fans, the project itself is emblematic of Anderson’s broader philosophy: that creation is a lifelong pursuit, powered not by deadlines, but by inspiration.
His plans for 2026 offer both closure and continuation — a chance for audiences to celebrate his past, witness his present performances, and speculate about the future of one of progressive rock’s most visionary minds.
