Even the lead singers of world-famous prog-rock bands can have their feelings hurt. Jon Anderson, lead singer of Yes, has written a pouty blog-post in response to the band’s decision to hire a replacement singer for their forthcoming tour. “[I am] disappointed,” he wrote, “and very disrespected.”

Anderson was sidelined this summer with acute respiratory failure, forcing him to cancel tour plans until 2009. Instead of calling off their 40th Anniversary tour, however, Yes simply found a new singer – on YouTube. The group recruited Benoit David, lead warbler for Montreal-based Yes cover-band Close To The Edge.

They just didn’t bother talking to Anderson about it.

“[I am] disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for Yes,” Anderson wrote. “Disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered.”

“Getting sick was not ‘on my radar,'” Anderson emphasised, saying he feels “disrespected” by Yes’ behaviour after he spent “most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band,” developing stage designs and promoting Yes on TV and radio.

“This is not Yes on tour,” he insisted, understandably sullen. “I wish the guys all the best in their ‘solo’ work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion.”

Maybe he could recruit Benoit David’s Close To The Edge band-mates and start a new band. They could be called No.