Pro rock’s newest supergroup hits town on Tuesday at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Three former members of legendary English progressive rock band Yes — founding singer Jon Anderson, ’80s-era guitarist Trevor Rabin, and fabled keyboardist Rick Wakeman — have been trying to form a band together since 2010. The trio’s busy schedules have finally allowed this to happen.

Here comes Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman, or ARW, as they’re also known, and they’re presenting “An Evening of Yes Music and More.”

In a telephone interview from Austin, Texas, on Monday, where they had a show that night at the 2,750-seat Moody Theater (PBS’ enduring “Austin City Limits” is taped at a smaller theater in this complex), the 67-year-old Wakeman told me, “Of all the Yes lineups, this one, far and away, has the best musicianship.”

That’s saying a lot, considering that Wakeman, the keyboardist millions of rock and prog rock fans put with ELP’s Keith Emerson as the two greatest ever, played with drummers Bill Bruford and Alan White and Yes’ founding virtuosic bassist Chris Squire, who died last year at 67, and one of rock’s most heralded guitarists, Steve Howe.

Part of the reason he feels this way is Philly drummer Louis Molino III, who played with Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson and Kenny Loggins, as well as 49-year-old London-born bassist Lee Pomeroy, who is doing double duty as a current member of Jeff Lynne’s ELO and who was in ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s band as well, among playing with several others.

Wakeman says this isn’t a well-known trio of stars with a couple backup musicians. This is a full-fledged band.

“This is a band in the truest sense with everyone throwing in ideas.”

Squire’s passing played a major part in getting this band to finally come together.

“The catalyst was when Chris died,” said Wakeman. “We realized that time was marching on and that we’d better do something before it was too late.”

He said ARW is working on releasing a live album.

“We’ve recorded practically every show in our attempt to release the definitive ARW live,” he said, adding that a studio album is in the group’s future. “We’ve written quite a lot of new music, and we’ll be working on more of it (the album) in January and February.”

The shows are a blend of early classic Yes with mid-’80s Rabin-era songs.

The early Yes fan faves showcased includes “And You and I,” “Heart of the Sunrise” and a tribute to Squire with Pomeroy covering his trademark tune, “The Fish.” The Rabin-era songs performed includes the excellent “Lift Me Up,” “Changes,” “Rhythm of Love” and the biggest hit of the band’s career, “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” from 1983.

What many don’t realize is that the 1983 LP, “90125,” was their best-selling album ever, going triple platinum, and two other Rabin albums, 1987’s “Big Generator” and 1991’s “Union,” went platinum and gold, respectively.

Since last year, Wakeman experienced the loss of three dear friends, legends all: Squire, Emerson and David Bowie. It was easy to see that he missed them all but held dear memories of each.

Of Squire, Wakeman noted: “Chris was a major part of all our lives (the members of Yes). He was an amazing character. Sometimes infuriating because of his legendary lateness, but always dearly loved.”

Of Squire’s place in music history, he assessed, “Chris and (The Who’s) John Entwhistle changed the face of bass playing. (Our bassist) Lee was totally influenced by Chris.”

Bowie, who died in January at 69, gave Wakeman his first major break when, in June 1969, the young unknown keyboardist was hired to play a relatively new instrument, the Mellotron, on “Space Oddity.” It was one of his very first professional recording sessions.

Bowie was happy with Wakeman and his playing and used him on the rest of his second album, “David Bowie.” In 1971, Wakeman, by then the keyboardist for Yes, played on Bowie’s fourth album, “Hunky Dory,” and his intricate piano work contributed mightily to making the LP a hit in England, and the album’s enduring classic, “Changes,” a standard.

“David was the most influential person I’d ever worked with in my entire life,” said Wakeman. “I owe him a massive debt. In addition to being the most influential, he was also the most generous person I ever worked with.”

Wakeman reminisced about his buddy and fellow keyboard master Emerson, who took his own life at age 71, only two months after Bowie’s death.

“We were very close friends for years. We spoke all the time. Back in the day, we used have lunch together and laugh at the perceived rivalry between us when fans debated who was best. We got a kick out of it.”

As for their different styles, he noted, “He was jazz based, while I’m classically trained. We figured that if we wanted to put together the ideal player, we’d used my right hand and his left.”

He added, “I hate funerals and the two most difficult funerals I ever had to attend were Keith’s and another mate’s (Deep Purple keyboardist) Jon Lord’s.”

However, for Rick Wakeman, life goes on. He concluded: “I can’t tell you how long I’ve been looking forward to making this group happen, and how great it is to play with them.”

Procol Harum’s Brooker back in the U.S.

Singer-pianist Gary Brooker, leader of the critically heralded British rock band Procol Harum since 1967, returns to our shores, to NYC specifically, to take part in four special Christmas performances.

The 71-year-old Brooker will perform at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan as part of the church’s 37th annual Winter Solstice Celebration, Dec. 15-17 (two shows on Dec. 17), according to both the church’s and Procol Harum’s websites.

The highlight of this year’s performance, “Icarus,” featuring as always the 10-piece Paul Winter Consort, is a tribute to The Beatles late producer, Sir George Martin. Brooker is the featured vocalist.

Brooker co-wrote all of Procol Harum’s songs, including the hits “Conquistador,” from 1967 (the live 1972 version with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra became a major hit), and the band’s signature tune, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which is one of fewer than 30 singles to sell more than 10 million copies.

“Whiter Shade” is the most-played record by British broadcasting during the past 80 years and is ranked at No. 57 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

There are legions of fans who have long believed that Procol Harum deserves induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, like other legendary bands such as Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues, not only aren’t they in the Hall, the haven’t even been nominated.

Lineup set for 2017 Stagecoach Fest in Indio

Country music’s annual Stagecoach Festival has been set for April 28-30 at the 330-acre Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, festival organizers Goldenvoice announced. Tickets go on sale Friday.

The Polo Grounds are also the site of the annual Coachella Festival, and the once-in-a-lifetime Desert Trip fest with Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roger Waters, Neil Young and Bob Dylan was held there last month.

On April 28, rock ’n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis is making a rare concert appearance at age 81. He joins headliner Dierks Bentley as well as British Invasion legends The Zombies, veteran Southern rockers .38 Special, alt country outfit Son Volt, hot Georgian country singer Cole Swindell, Americana singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle (son of country outlaw Steve Earle), and Downey roots rockers The Blasters.

The best-selling artist in the history of country music, Shania Twain, headlines Saturday’s lineup. She’ll be joined by Willie Nelson, X’s John Doe, Jamey Johnson, younger country stars Brett Eldredge and Kip Moore, and, making a rare concert appearance, Tommy James and The Shondells.

Sunday will see Cyndi Lauper and Los Lobos on the bill with headliner Kenny Chesney, and also Wynona Judd, The Cowboy Junkies, Travis Tritt, 26-year-old hit-making machine Thomas Rhett, and “The Hellbenders present The Who’s Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry.”

Guest appearances

Legends often make appearances on songs or albums by other groups. Here are a few.

The Kinks’ lead guitarist and backup singer Dave Davies makes an appearance on “Winterland” by L.A. band The Jigsaw Seen. Jigsaw Seen guitarist Jonathan Lea and bassist-pianist Tom Currier are also longtime members of Davies’ backup band.

Meat Loaf covers The Buffalo Springfield’s 1967 protest classic, “For What It’s Worth,” available as a bonus track on his new album, “Braver Than We Are.” Joining the singer is the song’s composer, Stephen Stills.

British Invasion icons Spencer Davis, Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham, The Hollies’ lead guitarist-singer Tony Hicks, Chad & Jeremy, The Quarrymen (John Lennon’s pre-Beatles group), and Peter Jameson and Richard Moore of The Troggs, John Farrar Mark Griffiths of The Shadows, Ian Whitcomb as well as The Ventures’ Nokie Edwards and David Carr all appear on “Queen’s English,” the most recent album from veteran Los Angeles surf rockers The Malibooz. The group was founded in 1964 by guitarist John Zambetti and singer-songwriter Walter Egan, best-known for his 1978 gold single, “Magnet and Steel.”

Eric Clapton adds a couple of solos “Blue & Lonesome,” the first studio album by his pals The Rolling Stones in 11 years. The album consists of covers of blues songs that the group has loved for decades. Clapton joins the boys on Miles Grayson and Lermon Horton’s “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing” and Willie Dixon’s “I Can’t Quit You Baby.”

Carnie and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips joined twins Gunner and Matthew Nelson on a new holiday single, “This Christmas.” It marked the first time in 26 years that the two pairs of siblings had seen each other. The Nelson twins are the sons of Rick Nelson and had hit it huge in 1990 with the smashes “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” “After the Rain” and “More Than Ever”.

Steve Smith writes a new Classic Pop, Rock and Country Music News column every week. It can be read in its entirety on www.presstelegram.com. Like, recommend or share the column on Facebook. Contact him by email at Classicpopmusicnews@gmail.com.