- published: 12 Dec 2011
- views: 63006
Trevor Charles Rabin (born 13 January 1954) is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1982–1994, then as a film composer.
Rabin was born into a family of classical musicians in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his father Godfrey was lead violinist for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and also a lawyer. Educated at Parktown Boys' High School in Johannesburg, he took formal piano training before discovering the guitar at age 12. He joined one of his first bands, The Other, when he was 13. His parents encouraged his talents toward rock music, although Rabin would maintain his interest in classical music throughout his career. Rabin also briefly studied orchestration at the University of Johannesburg and trained to be a conductor; he later arranged and conducted for many artists in South Africa.
Rabin's early influences included Arnold Schoenberg, Tchaikovsky, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. He also dabbled with progressive and heavy rock with his first band, The Conglomeration, as well as joining the prominent anti-apartheid rock band Freedom's Children for a year in 1972. During this same period, Rabin became a highly sought after session guitarist and bassist, playing with many jazz bands in South Africa. When Rabin fulfilled his obligation to the South African Army at age 19, he served with the entertainment division.
I was waiting for the moment
I was hoping for the moment
I can see a city burn on the horizon
Sudden darkness fills the sky and hides the day
Though the fires have set me free
From the clouds that cover me
I can't look away
I can't look away
I have climbed the valley side, scaled the mountain
Yet, my freedom's still one thousand miles away
Yet, I'm frozen in mid-stride
By this yearning deep inside
I can't look away
I can't look away
I was waiting for the moment
Then I heard the angels scream
I heard the angels scream
Cloaked in arms of war, come to look for you
For until they've seen there is no other way
Through the flames that set me free
And the clouds that cover me
I won't look away
I won't look away
I won't look away