Yes Bassist Chris Squire Peacefully Passed Away At 67 Of Leukemia

Chris Squire, co-founding member of the progressive rock band Yes peacefully passed away in June 27 in Phoenix, Arizona after over a month that he revealed that he was suffering with leukemia.

Squire's death was first mentioned by the band's current keyboardist Geoff Downes on Twitter, according to Rollingstone.

"Utterly devastated beyond words to have to report the sad news of the passing of my dear friend, bandmate and inspiration Chris Squire," he tweeted.

Yes also wrote an official statement on Facebook confirming the 67-year old musician's death.

"It's with the heaviest of hearts and unbearable sadness that we must inform you of the passing of our dear friend and Yes co-founder, Chris Squire. Chris peacefully passed away last night in Phoenix Arizona, in the arms of his loving wife Scotty."

Self-taught Chris Squire and singer Jon Anderson founded the band in 1968 and got their big break in their contract with Atlantic Records. They were later joined by guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Bill Bruford, BBC reported.

Their performance with Janis Joplin at London's Royal Albert Hall also gave them more visibility and fame.

They released their first debut single, Sweetness, and first album, Yes, later that year.

Members of the band come and go but Squire stayed in the band as its bassist for 50 years, Rollingstone said.

He also collaborated in the making of Yes' hit singles, "I've Seen All Good People," "Starship Trooper," "Owner of a Lonely Heart," "Yours Is No Disgrace" and "Heart of the Sunrise."

His co-founder, Jon Anderson, on the other hand, departed from the band three times until he finally made his final exit in 2008, Ultimate Classic Rock said.

In an official statement on his website, Anderson described Squire as his 'musical brother' and has expressed his pleasure to have reconnected with him.

"Chris was a very special part of my life; we were musical brothers. He was an amazingly unique bass player - very poetic - and had a wonderful knowledge of harmony. We met at a certain time when music was very open, and I feel blessed to have created some wonderful, adventurous, music with him. Chris had such a great sense of humor... he always said he was Darth Vader to my Obiwan. I always thought of him as Christopher Robin to my Winnie the Pooh."