Yes Members Sued for Alleged Song Theft: Legal Battle Over ‘Dare to Know’
- The lawsuit claims they conspired to steal the song "Dare to Know" from Riz Story, a long-time collaborator.
- Story stated he played in a band with Davison and Taylor Hawkins in the 1990s.
- An expert witness reported a 96% pitch similarity between the two songs.
Yes band members Steve Howe and Jon Davison face a lawsuit. The lawsuit claims they conspired to steal the song “Dare to Know” from Riz Story, a long-time collaborator. The legal documents, filed in California, allege that “Dare to Know,” from Yes’s 2021 album The Quest, copies Story’s track “Reunion,” recorded in 2012.
Story stated he played in a band with Davison and Taylor Hawkins in the 1990s. They collaborated over the years, and Story assisted with Davison’s audition for Yes in 2012. “Reunion” has only appeared in the 2012 film A Winter Rose. Story claims that Davison recognized and praised the song.
An expert witness reported a 96% pitch similarity between the two songs. They noted that both songs share strong melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic elements, which suggests a significant connection unlikely to happen by chance.
No comments have been made by Yes, Sony Music, or InsideOut Music. A representative for Story expressed sadness over the need to sue Howe and Davison, citing trust in the legal system to resolve the issue.