The recording sessions for a new Yes studio album continued in early 2011, interspersed with further touring. At the suggestion of producer Trevor Horn, former Yes and current Asia member Geoff Downes was brought in to record most of the keyboard parts and it was ultimately confirmed that Downes would replace Oliver Wakeman as the Yes keyboardist for "musical/business reasons". It was yet another abrupt and somewhat curious change of personnel for Yes, the band now comprising Squire/Howe/White/David/Downes.

In July 2011 the new Yes album titled "Fly From Here" received worldwide release. It immediately made fleeting appearances amongst the top 40 albums in the UK, America and elsewhere while receiving several positive reviews. The band proceeded on a joint American tour with Styx but unfortunately played little of the new album and received mixed reviews for some lacklustre shows early in the tour. This was followed by an extensive European tour in Nov/Dec 2011 where Yes featured extensive portions of "Fly From Here" and the concert reviews were generally more favourable.

To cap off a busy Yes-related year, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman toured America to promote their studio album "The Living Tree" and new live CD. They also toured individually and Jon released a CD solo album "Survival and Other Stories" plus a new Yes-styled epic "Open" for download. Alan White recorded the adventurous "Levin Torn White" album with David Torn and Tony Levin while Steve Howe's classically influenced "Time" solo album was also released. Additionally, the Yes live set "In The Present - Live From Lyon" recorded in 2009 was released in late Nov/early Dec 2011 (see separate review).

Finally, it was confirmed that Yes will tour Australia, New Zealand and Japan in April 2012.