Mabel Greer's Toyshop
That was taken in my studio in the Marquee, they were their first publicity photos. Chris [Squire, bassist], the one in the background with the long dark hair, I knew quite well. Chris used to always wear a kaftan and had a very pretty sister. They were always in and out of Jack's Bar, La Chasse and The Ship in Wardour Street. Everyone used to drink in The Ship, lots of atmosphere, even the Stones. The Marquee didn't have a bar in the beginning so everyone had to drink in The Ship. Then Jack Barrie came up with the idea of the room above The Marquee being a bar so that became La Chasse. Mabel Greer, and The Syn before them, were always in La Chasse hassling people for gigs as they were such music industry places. There were about three bands that were very interconnected: The Syn, Mabel Greer and another. Mabel Greer were the smallest and least known. It shocked me when they finally ended up becoming Yes as it seemed to me that Mabel Greer, The Syn and Yes were all around at the same time at one point! Perhaps there was a few months' separation between the bands forming and splitting but it retrospect they seemed to co-exist. Mabel Greer's were mainly the interval band at the Marquee, they were trying to be a flower power band. Yes were a lot better. I got to know them quite well. Chris would always wear these crazy things, floral and swirly - like bed sheets almost.