Steve Howe Pre-Yes Band Tomorrow & Grocer Jack Success

In 1967, the pop charts played host to a uniquely strange and experimental piece of storytelling: Excerpt From A Teenage Opera, also widely known as "Grocer Jack." Conceived by producer Mark Wirtz, the song chronicled the life of a local tradesman whose true value is only recognized by his community after his death at age 82. While the track climbed all the way to Number 2 in the UK and even topped the charts in Germany, its runaway success had unintended consequences for the musicians behind it.

The Accidental Hit That Divided Tomorrow

At the time, the song's vocalist, Keith West, was actively pursuing fame alongside guitarist Steve Howe in their band Tomorrow. Wirtz had invited West to his home to listen to music and add lyrics. West recalled that eccentric characters were all the rage in songwriting, joking that it might have had something to do with the era's widespread acid use.

With Howe laying down guitar for the demo, West recorded guide vocals with the intention of bringing in a bigger name for the final version. However, label executives at EMI liked what West had done and insisted he sing the official release. Bound to the label through Tomorrow, West agreed, assuming the single would amount to very little and leave his band undisturbed. "How wrong I was!" he later reflected.

A Painful Split Focus

As the single started selling in major quantities, EMI ordered West back from tour to promote it. While Tomorrow initially benefited financially from West's newfound commercial success, the dynamic of the band fractured. According to Howe, audiences in places like Ireland wanted the singer of "Grocer Jack" rather than the raw guitar-trio setup of Tomorrow, leading to awkward gigs where crowds hurled money at them.

The confusion of trying to be two things at once ultimately proved unsustainable. Gigs began to fizzle out, and the group dissolved. Years later, neither musician held bitterness toward the track's shadow; West embraced the unique experience, while Howe acknowledged the strange chapter that forever altered their trajectory.