Don Cassidy - 10 questions

De volgende in de YesFocus Fan interviews serie is Don Cassidy die in Amerika het internet radiostation Delicious Agony - Progressive Rock Radio samen met anderen runt. Elke week, donderdagnacht van 01:00 tot 03:00 Nederlandse tijd (07:00 tot 09:00 PM in Amerika), presenteert hij South Side Of The Sky waar Yes en gerelateerden centraal staan. Interviews, een prijsvraag en een chatroom waar zelfs verzoekjes kunnen worden gedaan terwijl je chat met andere Yesfans uit de hele wereld maken het een erg leuk programma. Tien vragen derhalve voor Don.

Next in line of the YesFocus Fan Interviews series is Don Cassidy who with others runs the internet radiostation Delicious Agony - Progressive Rock Radio in the USA. Every week on Thursdays, from 01:00 till 03:00 (Dutch time which is 07:00 till 09:00 PM USA time) he hosts South Side Of The Sky a show in which Yes and related are featured. Interviews, sometimes a contest, a chatroom where requests can be made while chatting to other Yesfans over the world make this a fun show. Ten questions for Don.

Name: Don Cassidy

Organisation: Delicious Agony - Progressive Rock Radio

Weekly Radio Show: South Side Of The Sky

Country: USA

1  First encounter with Yes:

I first fell in love with Yes about 16 years ago when a friend of mine told me about them and told me to buy Classic Yes. Once I heard the few first notes of Heart of The Sunrise, I was hooked. That led to buy all the albums, attend 13 concerts, and host a weekly internet show about them!

2  Favourite album:

Definitly Close To The Edge. This is my favorite album by any band and the title song if my favorite piece of recorded music. It is brilliant from beginning to end.  

3  Favourite song:

I guess I just answered this. Along with Close To The Edge, I'd have to say Awaken, South Side Of The Sky, And You And I, Turn Of The Century and The Remembering.

4  Yes in 5 words:

Emotional, mind-blowing, progressive giants.

5  Quote your favourite lyric and explain why:

That's a tough one probably any lyric from the Close To the Edge album!

6  Favourite non-Yes band / artist:

The Flower Kings. I consider them the masters of modern progressive rock and the best band on the planet today. They are certainly leading the new movement of prog today.  

7  How and why did you start the organisation?

Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio was started by Kris Ferri in 2001. I joined in 2003 and took over later that year. We are here to try to play a small part in keeping progressive rock alive and exposing these tremendous bands. It's a team effort with Elliot Mednick, Tim Blake, Joe Mallon and others all working together. We have grown tremendously over the past few years and are now the most listened to progressive rock station on the net.  

8  What is the ultimate thing to achieve with your organisation?

To continue to keep exposing the listeners to this wonderful music.  

9 If there ever would be a Union II, what members should be involved?

I would love to see all the members that have ever been in Yes get together for one concert. That would be amazing!

10  A nice Yes related anecdote out of your hat please...

Yes and the Beatles are the two bands that have had the greatest effect on me.   If it wasn't for Yes, there wouldn't be any Delicious Agony.   My biggest thrill has been to interview my heroes like Jon Anderson, Alan White, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe.   With my weekly Yes show and our Yes Marathons, I have made many great Yes friends.   For that, I am very grateful.