Chris's early influences were diverse, ranging from church and choral music to the Merseybeat sounds of the early 1960's. His first musical groups Syn, and later, Mabel Greer's Toyshop, would introduce him to his early Yes collaborators Peter Banks and Jon Anderson.

Yes released their first record in 1969, and though the band has had many personnel changes over the years, they have continued to record and tour for over 30 years.

Chris's bass playing is noted for being aggressive, dynamic, and melodic. His main instrument is a Rickenbacker 4001, which he has owned and played since 1965; it was the fourth Rickenbacker 4001 ever imported into Britain from the United States. This instrument, with its warmth and distortion, is a significant part of his unique sound which is achieved by a technique known as 'bi-amping'. By splitting the stereo signal from his bass (which divided the signal from the pickups into dual high and low frequency outputs) and then sending the low frequency output to a conventional bass amplifier and the high-frequency output to a separate lead guitar amplifier, he produced a tonal 'sandwich' that added a growling, overdriven edge to the sound while retaining the Rickenbacker's powerful bass response. Chris (who is self-taught) was also one of the first rock bass players to successfully adapt electronic guitar effects such as tremolo, phasing and the wah-wah pedal to the instrument. Squire's vocals are also key to Yes' music, providing important harmonization with Jon Anderson's distinctive countertenor.

He has concentrated overwhelmingly on Yes' music over the years, and his solo works have been few and far between. His first and only true solo record was 1975's Fish Out of Water, a record in the vein of Yes' Relayer, and featuring Yes alumni Bill Bruford on drums and Patrick Moraz on keyboards.

Website www.myspace.com/chrissquire