It could be said that Yes treated rock 'n' roll as fine art.

The venerable British band was at the forefront of the progressive-rock movement in the 1970s with albums such as “Close to the Edge” and “Tales From Topographic Oceans.”

Three Yes members are keeping the memories alive with a 2016-17 world tour that kicked off in early October.

Singer/co-founder Jon Anderson, guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Rick Wakeman perform at 8 p.m. Eastern time Friday at Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich.

Known as ARW, the trio will be joined at the show by bassist Lee Pomeroy and drummer Louis Molino III.

“The interesting thing is, it's a good band,” Anderson said in a recent phone interview.

Saying Pomeroy and Molino are “very well known musicians,” Anderson assured that he enjoys hooking up again with his old bandmates.

“Working with Trevor and Rick is a joy to behold,” he said. “It's a bit crazy, miraculous, magical, adventurous and silly, because Rick has to tell jokes.”

Besides being a proficient pianist/keyboardist who has recorded with David Bowie and Cat Stevens, there also happens to be the soul of a comedian within Wakeman's personality.

“He does stand-up work when he's in England, so he does a lot of jokes while we're rehearsing,” Anderson said.

The ARW tour affords longtime comrades the opportunity to share their classic rock.

“What we're doing is sort of revisiting Yes music and adding things to it, and doing a couple of songs in a different way — thinking 21st century Yes; how would they progress? Because progressing is very important in music,” Anderson said. “It keeps you young.”

The history of Yes dates back to 1968, when Anderson and the late Chris Squire founded the group. That same year, the band landed a vaunted gig as an opener for Cream's farewell-concert engagement at the Royal Albert Hall in London

Growing out of the creatively fertile London scene, Yes was essentially an album-oriented group with some singles success in the United States.

“Your Move” (1971) and “Roundabout” (1972) cracked the Top 40 and Top 20, respectively.

“Roundabout” was taken from Yes' 1971 album “Fragile,” a critical and commercial success which cemented the band's arrival as an art-rock force.

Yes was once a big-name stadium act. Its members still savor life on the road four decades later.

“It's a different kind of fun; it's more of a challenge,” Anderson, 72, said. “We're still very young in heart and soul. We're just going to enjoy the touring and take our time. We're not going to be out there every night raving, that's for sure. We'll concentrate on putting on a great show. We love touring. Everybody wants a challenge now and again to keep them happy and keep their lives strong.”

Anderson said there are touring plans for Europe and Japan in the next few months.

Additionally, some fresh recorded material may be in the works.

“We've written some songs already,” the singer and ukulele player said. “We're thinking maybe in January, February we'll record one or two songs and see how it goes. We just think we might be able to get something together and put it out in springtime.”

As Yes attempts to corral a new audience, it managed to go through a renaissance with the 1983 release of the album “90125.”

It contained the techno-friendly “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” which hit No. 1 and scored with the MTV generation.

Portage rock musician Lou Samaniego said “90125” is one of his all-time favorite rock albums.

“It's recorded well; sonically, it's a great sound,” said Samaniego, a singer-songwriter known in Northwest Indiana for his partnership with fellow local rocker Chris Sulcer.

“It's just a well put-together album; it still stands,” added the 46-year-old Samaniego.

“90125” also included the New Wave flavor of “It Can Happen,” which is laced with an India-sitar sound.

The track furthered the Yes reputation for releasing distinctive, tightly crafted studio work.

Also standing apart from the crowd is 1977's “Wonderous Stories,” which boasts a lilting medieval tone.

The inspiration for writing the song came when Anderson was watching his children “fast asleep” while he was living in Switzerland.

“It was just a peaceful moment,” he said.

“I think that Yes music was, and is, very unique — and Yes fans know it,” said Anderson, who resides in central California.

Nearly 50 years after forming, Yes is still touring — and that provides its co-founder with a sense of pleasant wonder.

“When you start a band, you think, well, we'll give it two or three years and see how we go,” Anderson said. “And all of a sudden, we were lucky enough to get some success early on. And here we are. Being musicians in life is an incredible gift.”

Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance writer.