The prog-rock band behind “Roundabout” that was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 was Yes.
Yes formed in London in 1968 and became one of progressive rock’s defining groups. The band combined extended arrangements, shifting time signatures, virtuosic playing, elaborate harmonies, and fantasy-influenced lyrics. Its classic lineup is closely associated with singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and drummer Bill Bruford, although the membership changed repeatedly over the decades.
“Roundabout” was released on the 1971 album Fragile. Its acoustic opening, dramatic electric-guitar entrance, complex structure, and memorable keyboard passages made it one of Yes’s signature songs. The single later became a major introduction to the band for American listeners.
Yes entered the Rock Hall as a Performer in 2017. That distinction can cause confusion with other progressive-rock inductees: Genesis entered in 2010, Rush in 2013, and King Crimson had not been inducted as of the 2017 class. “Roundabout” therefore points to Yes, not to another celebrated prog-rock band.