Steve Howe pays tribute to son Virgil in “Leaving Aurora” video

Steve Howe has released a touching video tribute to his late son Virgil. Virgil died unexpectedly in September at the age of 41, shortly after he and the Yes guitarist had completed recording their collaborative album Nexus. The album was finished before the Yestival Tour kicked off, but Yes canceled the remaining US dates of the tour following Howe’s death.

Last month, Howe said he hoped the record would be a fitting tribute to Virgil and it is set to be released on November 24th. Howe has now launched a poignant new video for the album’s song “Leaving Aurora.” It’s a simple video that pays tribute to Virgil, showing Steve on guitar while cutting to clips and images of his youngest son.

Howe said: “Virgil and I had only recently completed recording Nexus, which contains 11 of his tunes to which I added a guitar to suit each one. We delivered it to InsideOut Music in August for release on November 17.

“We started to work together in 2016 by selecting about nine tunes from his ‘stockpile’ of piano based music that he’d periodically sent Jan and I each time he’d written and recorded a new idea. I began adding guitars to them, then I’d play them to Virgil. He’d then surprise me by bringing up other channels of instrumentation which I’d never heard.

“The tunes went from straightforward ‘duets’ to something bigger and better, more of a complete picture than a mere shape. Free Fall and Nick’s Star were added from earlier sessions, the latter being his tribute to the passing of his best friend Nick Hirsch.”

Howe continues: “Nexus explores a completely different side of Virgil’s ability, as a writer and keyboard player – in his own right. His talents were multi-diverse, so sitting at a keyboard and computer or in the middle of his drum kit, at all his regular DJ gigs or on the radio, he always gave his best.

“We hope that the music just completed will stand as a fitting tribute to his life and legacy.”