Yes Co-Founder & Bassist Chris Squire Dies at 67 After Leukemia Battle

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Chris Squire, the bassist and co-founder of the progressive 1970's rock band, Yes, has died Saturday after battling leukemia. He was 67.

Squire's band mates confirmed and posted the announcement in the group's Facebook page on Sunday.

"It's with the heaviest of hearts and unbearable sadness that we must inform you of the passing of our dear friend and Yes co-founder, Chris Squire," the post read.

Squire who was also a vocalist and songwriter was receiving treatment in his hometown in Phoenix, Arizona when he passed away. Squire is survived by his wife Scotty and five of his children: Carmen, Chandrika, Camille, Cameron, and Xilan, according to E! Online.

It was just last month that Squire's hiatus and leukemia diagnosis was announced in the band's official website, Yes World. The statement said that Squire will be receiving treatment in Phoenix for his diagnosis of Acute Erythroid Leukemia (AEL), which is an uncommon form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

With the band's upcoming summer tour with Toto at the time, Squire's role was to be taken over by Billy Sherwood, a Yes alumnus.

"This will be the first time since the band formed in 1968 that Yes will have performed live without me," said Squire on his absence.  "But the other guys and myself have agreed that Billy Sherwood will do an excellent job of covering my parts and the show as a whole will deliver the same Yes experience that our fans have come to expect over the years."

Born in London on March 4, 1948, Squire started his musical career as a choirboy which gave him insight to stylings and techniques for his music. He co-founded the Yes band with Jon Anderson, the group's former lead singer in 1968 and was joined by drummer Bill Bruford, guitarist Peter Banks, and keyboardist Tony Kaye.  He was hailed as one of the leaders of progressive rock during the 1970s, according to Mashable.

With the news of his death, many musicians paid the bassist tribute throughout different social media platforms. Tributers include Mike Portnoy, Tom Morello, Joe Satriani, Dave Mustaine, and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, according to CNN.

Yes released "Heaven & Earth" album last year, according to Washington Post. Some of the band's hits include "Roundabout," "Owner of a Lonely Heart," "Yours Is No Disgrace" and "I've Seen All the Good People."

According to Mashable, Squire released a solo debut called "Fish Out of Water" in 1975 and briefly played in a super group, XYZ (eX-Yes-Zeppelin), which included Jimmy Page.