Billy Sherwood

Billy Sherwood, bass player for prog-rock legends Yes, is also a noted producer, guitarist, and keyboard player. His songwriting chops, technical nous, and sonic explorations have led him on a long journey through prog and its boundary-pushing, complex compositions. Sherwood’s other bands include World Trade, Lodgic, Asia, and Arc Of Life, who he formed along with Jon Davison of Yes.

The bassist was born in 1965 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is from a solid background of musical performers. His father was an actor and musician, and his mother a singer, as was his late brother Michael, who also played in Lodgic. Sherwood’s setup includes basses from Spector, Fender, Turner, and more, and he uses a relatively hefty Dunlop 1mm pick, which he prefers for its texture and versatility, using different angles and tilts on the string to produce different