Editing Steve Howe (section)

=== 1964–1970: Early bands ===
In 1964, the 17-year-old Howe became a member of his first professional band, the [[North London]]-based rhythm and blues group [[the Syndicats]] that formed the year prior and were produced by [[Joe Meek]].{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=84}} His first of three studio recordings with the band was a rendition of "[[Maybellene]]" by [[Chuck Berry]] that was released as a single with "True to Me" on its [[A-side and B-side|B-side]], a song Howe co-wrote with their singer, Tom Ladd.<ref name=ibtimes2015/> The Syndicats occasionally opened for [[Chris Farlowe]] and the Thunderbirds; one night Farlowe asked Howe to step in for [[Albert Lee]] at a [[Wolverhampton]] gig when Lee was taken ill.{{sfn|Howe|2021|p=31}}

In 1965, Howe left the band and accepted an invitation to join [[Tomorrow (band)|the In Crowd]], a soul and covers band who often played in Tottenham and released a rendition of "That's How Strong My Love Is" by [[Otis Redding]] which went to No. 48 on the UK singles chart in May 1965.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=85}} The band soon renamed themselves Tomorrow and adopted a [[psychedelic rock]] sound, writing more original songs and changing their stage clothes. In 1967, they released two singles: "[[My White Bicycle]]" and "[[Revolution (Tomorrow song)|Revolution]]", the latter co-written by Howe.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=85}}{{efn|Howe recalls that [[Frank Zappa]] told him that his solo on "Claremount Lake", the [[B-side]] of "My White Bicycle" was "one of the best he'd heard".{{sfn|Howe|2021|p=47}}}}

During the recording of a new single with producer [[Mark Wirtz]], Howe was asked by Wirtz to record some guitar as a [[session musician]], which pleased Howe and felt "thrilled to bits" to take part. The session led to Howe recording a selection of singles for [[EMI]], which included his first song "Mothballs", also known as "So Bad",<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Mothballs|publisher=RPM Records|year=1994|author=Steve Howe|id=RPM 140}}</ref> and playing guitar on [[Keith West]]'s single "[[Excerpt from A Teenage Opera]]" which went to No. 2 in the UK.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=86}} Howe and his Tomorrow bandmates also took part in a pie fight scene in the satirical comedy film ''[[Smashing Time]]'' (1967)<ref name=NFTE238>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfte.org/interviews/SH238.html|title= Conversation with Steve Howe [NFTE #238]|work= Notes from the Edge| via= nfte.org| first=Mike|last=Tiano|date=23 June 2000| access-date=12 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113114742/http://www.nfte.org/interviews/SH238.html|archive-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> (where he had one line, "Let's do it!"{{sfn|Howe|2021|p=35}}), toured the London club circuit, sharing bills with [[Pink Floyd]], jamming with [[Jimi Hendrix]] and playing at the Christmas on Earth concert at [[Earl's Court]].{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=86}}{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=87}}{{sfn|Howe|2021|p=43}}

After Tomorrow split in 1967, Howe went on to play on several songs with their singer Keith West, including playing the bass guitar on West's "The Kid Was a Killer",<ref name=NFTE230>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfte.org/interviews/SH230.html|title=  Conversation with Steve Howe [NFTE #230]| work= Notes from the Edge| via= nfte.org|first=Mike|last=Tiano|date=18 April 1999| access-date= 3 January 2017|url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070622032552/http://www.nfte.org/interviews/SH230.html|archive-date=22 June 2007}}</ref> and tracks with guitarist [[Ronnie Wood]] and drummer [[Aynsley Dunbar]] but neither recording got finished.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=87}} In 1968, with Howe's reputation as a guitarist on the rise,{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=86}} he joined [[Bodast]], a trio which also used the name of Canto for a short period. They signed a recording deal with [[Tetragrammaton Records]] and put down a selection of songs in 1969 at [[Trident Studios]] for an album with West as producer, but the label went out of business shortly before its release.<ref name="15 November 2000"/><ref name=Bio1960s>{{cite web|title= Biography - 1960s |url= http://stevehowe.com/biography/1960s/|website= SteveHowe.com |access-date=30 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122080412/https://stevehowe.com/biography/1960s/|archive-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> The label had also promised the group film roles and visits to the US but they never materialised and they disbanded.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=87}} Howe released the tracks for the proposed album after he obtained the recordings and remixed them himself as ''The Bodast Tapes'' (1981).<ref>{{cite AV media notes| title= The Bodast Tapes |publisher= Cherry Red Records| year= 1981| author=Bodast Featuring Steve Howe|id=BRED 12}}</ref>

After Bodast split, Howe auditioned with the [[progressive rock]] band [[the Nice]] as a potential new member, but decided it was not for him, and left the next day.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=87}} An audition with [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] followed, but Howe failed to turn up when he learned the guitarist they wanted would not contribute to the songwriting. Howe also had a try out with [[Atomic Rooster]] while [[Carl Palmer]] was a member but said, "it didn't quite gel."<ref name=LS99>{{cite web| url= https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-prog-interview-steve-howe-on-chris-squire-and-the-future-of-yes|title=The Prog Interview: Steve Howe on Chris Squire and The Future of Yes|first=Sid|last=Smith|date=30 March 2016|work= Louder| via= loudersound.com |access-date=8 August 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502070256/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-prog-interview-steve-howe-on-chris-squire-and-the-future-of-yes|archive-date=2 May 2022}}</ref> In 1970, Howe toured as a member of American soul singer [[P. P. Arnold]]'s backing band, with future members of [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]], which also involved American duo [[Delaney & Bonnie]]. The tour made him believe he was set "to really go somewhere in music."<ref name=BS99>{{cite web|url=http://zenponies.com/yitp/1999/99_2.html |title= Interview with Steve Howe |first= Mike| last= McGlinn |year=1999| work=Beyond Sound| via= zenponies.com| access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref>