I met Rick at the Capitol Theatre in New Jersey when Yes was playing there on 26 February 1972. The band I was in, Genya Raven's "Baby", was opening for them. Well, this guy with long blonde hair was sitting at the piano before the sound checks, playing the wonderful piano part from Cat Steven's "Morning Has Broken". I sat down on the bench with him and he smiled at me. After he finished I asked him why he was playing that particular thing and he said that he wrote it and recorded it on the record. He introduced himself as Rick and said he played in Yes. I told him who I was and why I was there and we started talking. He had heard our recently released album and was impressed. He said that his wife was about to give birth to his first child that very night and he was quite nervous about it. His son Oliver was born that evening and it was announced during Yes's set. RIck is such a nice guy, very funny and affable. Oh yeah, he's also a brilliant musician.
One I always use…. How do you tell if a stage is level? The drummer is drooling out both sides of his mouth. I’ve seen Yes 19 times starting with close to the edge. I also saw Rick and the British rock ensemble center of the earth tour in Cincinnati in the 70’s….gentle giant opened up. One of my favorite concerts ever! Rick is a true joy, an amazing musician and a class act. God bless you sir.
Rick Wakeman is the best! His version of Silent Night brought back memories of my mom who passed in March of this year. She loved Christmas music and would have adored Rick's Christmas album.
Damn, I missed his concert in Clearwater! I should get out more. Saw him at Ruth Eckhart Hall, 10 or 12 years ago..., and he didn't talk with the audience that much. This video was the 2nd time I've ever heard him speak. I've got YT to thank for this!
He and Keith Emerson are the greatest keyboard players in the Rock history. But not only that, Wakeman is one of the most interesting icons of that golden age. What a guy. he should write a book of his stories.
I had the opportunity and extreme pleasure to sit down and talk with Rick Wakeman. He was generous with his time, very kind to a nobody like myself and allowed the band I represented ('Hollander, who opened for him) to wear long haired white wigs and capes for their opening tune. They did an acoustic version of "Long Distance Runaround" and he smiled at me and gave us a thumbs up. What a thrill !!
My image from the mid 70s of Rick was so different from what he turned out to really be like. He seemed so serious as the wizard of the keyboards in glittery capes and long straight blond hair, playing amazing otherworldly astral soundscapes live but mostly represented in still photos because video and film was rare and hard to get. And interviews nearly non-existent. I first got a glimpse of his humor in the footage included on the YES Union tour VHS video tape but really found out how funny he is when I read his hilarious book "Grumpy Old Rock Star".
I’m not aware of a better pianist/keyboardist still living who is in this gentleman’s league. Modern day Beethoven. He did so much for music. Thank you sir. Oh and you are quite funny.
i wonder if Rick remembers me and my slightly intoxicated buddy interviewing him after a Yes show in Toronto, think it was the Union tour, what a interesting fellow, cool guy thats got perspectives figured out......kinda rare in the rock world.
Fantastic interview - thank you. Decades since we saw Rick W in concert but a superb composer, musician and performer. We have many of his LPs - then CDs. Such a wag, too.
A true icon in the music industry...I've been a fan since 75..."fan" short for Fanatic... Yes is life and all existence as it should be...If only my heros would never die...:( 11:56, I kind of lost it listening to Rick play life on mars and remembering Bowie is no longer with us... I had no idea...
October 1974 live went something like this: "The Journey" Recollection "Catherine Howard" "Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight" "Down and Out" "Anne Boleyn" "The Forest" Arthur Guinevere "Merlin the Magician" "Catherine Parr" "Hungarian Rhapsody" "The Battle" Was an astounding concert! Also saw Rick several times with Yes.
So I was aware that Rick Wakeman was the keyboardist for the beautiful song Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, but I was not aware of The Six Wives of Henry VIII, hence was unaware of the piece Catherine Howard which (once you hear it, as we did here in shortened form) is clearly the source for his contribution to Morning Has Broken. It's too bad that he wasn't acknowledged (or even paid!) for his work with Cat Stevens until decades later: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Has_Broken
I'm a guitarist. Basically your right hand strums and the left hand uses fingers to play. Keyboardists freak me out. 2 diff songs at the same time. Rhythm AND solos. And then there are drummers. 4 different things at once... and some SING !? Holy crap.
At one Yes show at The Rubberbowl, in Akron, Ohio (my first time seeing Yes), the 2nd Band was John McLaughlin and Mahavishnu Orchestra(Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird), and some little-known, kinda country rock band called The Eagles (pre Joe Walsh). Odd mix, but wonderful representation of our music world, in retrospect.
2:12 That why I think Alex Lifeson's speech was even better..."the blah's" speech, where he never said any words but "blah". Perfect mockery of those nonsense awards :-P
I remember seeing an interview with Lou Reed, during a time when prog rock was still the target of much ridicule, and he was dissing his own first solo album (1972) because (amongst other things) "It's got Rick Wakeman on it, for God's sake", as if that was the worst thing ever. Well yeah, Lou, it does, and so has "Hunky Dory", which is one reason why it's such a unique Bowie album and a favorite for so many people.
Rick is pre-eminent among Rock keyboard players. They didn’t call him One Take for nothing. Had Rick taken the classical route in his profession, he’d still have reached the very top. Only Keith Emerson came close in ability.
This man is hysterical. Possibly the best keyboardist ever, been in the greatest bands ever, and still finds time to do stand-up. Awesome Rick. Thank you for all the music.
@@alisonwunderland9900 Ha, me being a man would always blame the wives :) Or...they just divorced in time, many marriages don't find the right moment to agree on it being time to go seperate ways. Who knows the truth about the 3 Wives of Rick the Wakeman :)
I suffer from depression and prog rock is the only music that wakes me from it,it invigorates my soul like nature does. Thank you to bands like The Beatles, Crimson,The Moody Blues and Bowie who started the genre,Life On Mars is a song I will never tire of despite how many times I listen to it,that piano melody is so prog! I remember my folks bringing home a tape of the album Journey To The Centre Of The Earth here in Melbourne,Australia back in the mid 70’s,I was 9 years old at the time,that album blew my mind.
He was skint back in the day and needed the money for his rent think it was £9 Marc Bolan heard about it and brought him to the studio, he was recording Get it On. He said he wanted some piano on the track, so Rick did his bit and said to Marc you could have done it yourself. He said Marc said you want your rent money don’t you. Bolan knew he just would not just accept the money, so he got him to play on Get it On, which wasn’t to have piano on it, I thought that was a very nice thing to do.
I heard it was Elton John, that was playing, on that song...But, I'll agree, outside, the opening fill, it wasn't necessary. It was so buried in the mix.
Zack Kohler yes its a true story told by the man himself, Elton John only appeared playing on Get it On on Top of The Pops, and he made an appearance in the Movie Born to Boogie, have not heard of him playing on any T.Rex songs, and i have been a fan for nearly 50 years.
Rick Wakeman is one one those people that should live until 120 years old,so many stories, so many nice things to tell, and so funny,the man is one of a kind.
Isn’t he a direct descendant of Bach? That’s what I had heard years ago. Amazing musician from my all time favorite band. Journey To The Center Of The Earth is a classic!!!
Isn’t he a direct descendant of Bach? That’s what I had heard years ago. Amazing musician from my all time favorite band. Journey To The Center Of The Earth is a classic!!!
He just tosses off "Life on Mars" so beautifully -- no prep, just off the cuff. Have been a fan since Fragile, and since Six Wives. The Holy Trinity -- Wakeman, Emerson, and Lord. He's the only one left -- we're so lucky to have him.
@@zenstain ~ Yea. You cant think about GREAT prog keyboards without songs like 'Cinema Show' sticking right out! l loved Tony's playing! lt was FABULOUS! There are very few TITANS ....and he's one of them! Cheers!
Well Mike...Rod Argent, whom RW credited as having played the greatest Hammond solo ever recorded ( on Hold Your Head Up), is still gigging in 2020 and playing like a demon!! :D It's interesting the number of "monster" keyboard players & guitarists who came out of the UK during that time. On a per capita basis it was a huge number!
I could sit for 12 hours straight listening to Rick.....both music and words.
1:00 the best timed "let me fart," line ever, and It goes right on by...that's just sad. Rick should've hammered that one home.
how is no one else commenting on this!?
I was searching for this comment, thanks for not making me feel alone laughing at this 🤣🤣
@@sayvillefunkorchestra2895 I noticed it first time listening and was waiting for the punch-line or the joke ref. and then ....what?
I could listen to this man all day! Rick is just a fascinating character - as well as a wonderful musician
Absolutely fascinating interview! Wakeman was one of my musical "idols" in the 70s.
He is one of my music idols he's awesome
I was a keyboard player myself. My all-time single favorite musician.
@Dave Wray Melikes too.
Rick's piano technique is awesome. He and Yuja Wang are great examples of correct wrist position although Yuja looks better.
A great story teller.
I saw him live with his band, around 20 years ago. An unusual and charismatic figure.
Rick is just great, happy to hear the comment about his relationship to Steve as well. Two of the best proggers ever.
I met Rick at the Capitol Theatre in New Jersey when Yes was playing there on 26 February 1972. The band I was in, Genya Raven's "Baby", was opening for them. Well, this guy with long blonde hair was sitting at the piano before the sound checks, playing the wonderful piano part from Cat Steven's "Morning Has Broken". I sat down on the bench with him and he smiled at me. After he finished I asked him why he was playing that particular thing and he said that he wrote it and recorded it on the record. He introduced himself as Rick and said he played in Yes. I told him who I was and why I was there and we started talking. He had heard our recently released album and was impressed. He said that his wife was about to give birth to his first child that very night and he was quite nervous about it. His son Oliver was born that evening and it was announced during Yes's set.
RIck is such a nice guy, very funny and affable. Oh yeah, he's also a brilliant musician.
I could listen to Rick Wakeman telling stories and having conversations all day.
One I always use….
How do you tell if a stage is level?
The drummer is drooling out both sides of his mouth.
I’ve seen Yes 19 times starting with close to the edge. I also saw Rick and the British rock ensemble center of the earth tour in Cincinnati in the 70’s….gentle giant opened up. One of my favorite concerts ever!
Rick is a true joy, an amazing musician and a class act. God bless you sir.
Such an amazing talent and simply a wonderful, humorous person. Who can fail to love Rick?
Rick Wakeman is the best! His version of Silent Night brought back memories of my mom who passed in March of this year. She loved Christmas music and would have adored Rick's Christmas album.
What a superb interview. Love the genuine conversational approach from Rick. What a true man and great musician. Thanks
I just heard this morning that Mr Wakeman will be coming here to Clearwater on March 25th here in 2023 he is still going strong 😉😉😉😉😉
Damn, I missed his concert in Clearwater!
I should get out more.
Saw him at Ruth Eckhart Hall, 10 or 12 years ago..., and he didn't talk with the audience that much. This video was the 2nd time I've ever heard him speak. I've got YT to thank for this!
" Yes" is definitely one of my favourite bands, the music and the players were exceptional
By Christ, the local kids are fucking loud in the field tonight!
This was amazing! Please revive the "Grumpy Old Rock Star" tour and bring it to the States. I will personally handle your Texas dates. Huge fan!
I feel so fortunate to have grown up listening to the greatest musicians of all time.
WONDERFUL interview. Thank you for posting it.
He and Keith Emerson are the greatest keyboard players in the Rock history. But not only that, Wakeman is one of the most interesting icons of that golden age. What a guy. he should write a book of his stories.
I could listen to Wakeman tell stories all day.
As me. A lifetime of Rick wakeman. With yes. And solo. Especially 6 wife's. Who out there likes the criminal record album?
I had the opportunity and extreme pleasure to sit down and talk with Rick Wakeman. He was generous with his time, very kind to a nobody like myself and allowed the band I represented ('Hollander, who opened for him) to wear long haired white wigs and capes for their opening tune. They did an acoustic version of "Long Distance Runaround" and he smiled at me and gave us a thumbs up. What a thrill !!
What a great piano player and fine gentleman.
🎹🎹🎹🎹Nice piece of interrogative section
I had no idea. I f*ck9ng love him!!! I can’t believe I’m watching such a humble genius! Long live YES
Enjoyed hearing your humour
Mr Wakeman!
My image from the mid 70s of Rick was so different from what he turned out to really be like. He seemed so serious as the wizard of the keyboards in glittery capes and long straight blond hair, playing amazing otherworldly astral soundscapes live but mostly represented in still photos because video and film was rare and hard to get. And interviews nearly non-existent. I first got a glimpse of his humor in the footage included on the YES Union tour VHS video tape but really found out how funny he is when I read his hilarious book "Grumpy Old Rock Star".
just couldn't stop listening to this interesting man's stories.
Wakeman's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" is his best work.
In '74-ish, it just popped up out of nowhere... and I was transfixed.
Very entertaining interview and nice to see how he respects others...
I’m not aware of a better pianist/keyboardist still living who is in this gentleman’s league. Modern day Beethoven. He did so much for music. Thank you sir. Oh and you are quite funny.
Nice piece of interrogative section🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹
The future is now. Great line. I'm 66 and feel the same way.
i wonder if Rick remembers me and my slightly intoxicated buddy interviewing him after a Yes show in Toronto, think it was the Union tour, what a interesting fellow, cool guy thats got perspectives figured out......kinda rare in the rock world.
Fantastic interview - thank you. Decades since we saw Rick W in concert but a superb composer, musician and performer. We have many of his LPs - then CDs. Such a wag, too.
I have seen many of his solo tours in the U.K., he is brilliantly funny.
that Yes induction acceptance speech is perhaps the best one I have ever heard! Really hilarous
Nice interview. Rick is great storyteller. I did interview with him a few years ago and spent 45 minutes talking. Great experience.
Keyboard king 🎹
Damn, this was sooooo good!
It's great to laugh and cry at the same time. What a hero.
Met him with ABH& W. He was a really cool guy with all the fans there. Love Yes...
Great Musician and All Around Good Guy! Love You Rick!
Yes is incredible
OUTSTANDING!!!! Thanks So Much, Chris Zinn
Top man. National treasure
A true legend, a rock god and just a good guy.
I get to see him in November here in St. Louis. Can't wait!
'69..."It's the year, not what I was doing..."
Rick does a bit of stand up
Rick Wakeman. What a man !!
A true icon in the music industry...I've been a fan since 75..."fan" short for Fanatic... Yes is life and all existence as it should be...If only my heros would never die...:( 11:56, I kind of lost it listening to Rick play life on mars and remembering Bowie is no longer with us... I had no idea...
What a talent! What a character !! Thank you Rick
October 1974 live went something like this:
"The Journey"
Recollection
"Catherine Howard"
"Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight"
"Down and Out"
"Anne Boleyn"
"The Forest"
Arthur
Guinevere
"Merlin the Magician"
"Catherine Parr"
"Hungarian Rhapsody"
"The Battle"
Was an astounding concert!
Also saw Rick several times with Yes.
Awesome talent!
23:35 "Hey Dad, which one's me mum?" Hilarious
He is the repository of Rock History, all in his brain.
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing. Such talent. Great interview.
I like this guy.
A Rick&Ricky show would be PRICELESS
Alex Lifeson's acceptance speech was hilarious as well. But Rick is Rick!
So I was aware that Rick Wakeman was the keyboardist for the beautiful song Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, but I was not aware of The Six Wives of Henry VIII, hence was unaware of the piece Catherine Howard which (once you hear it, as we did here in shortened form) is clearly the source for his contribution to Morning Has Broken. It's too bad that he wasn't acknowledged (or even paid!) for his work with Cat Stevens until decades later: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Has_Broken
Yes indeed. There's a glimpse of it on here. I think it might have been because Rick hadn't yet got a piece ready for it.
I'm a guitarist. Basically your right hand strums and the left hand uses fingers to play.
Keyboardists freak me out. 2 diff songs at the same time. Rhythm AND solos.
And then there are drummers. 4 different things at once... and some SING !?
Holy crap.
At one Yes show at The Rubberbowl, in Akron, Ohio (my first time seeing Yes), the 2nd Band was John McLaughlin and Mahavishnu Orchestra(Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird), and some little-known, kinda country rock band called The Eagles (pre Joe Walsh). Odd mix, but wonderful representation of our music world, in retrospect.
Wonderful stuff.
I remember seeing YES at RAIDO CITY MUSIC HALL he came out of the wall on a house organ man can he play .
Loved the interview. Thanks a lot!
22:20 "Divorce was different back then."
There isn't any mellotron on Sgt Pepper, but there is on the Magical Mystery Tour album.
Fantastic player/writer!!! Need I say more!??
Good interview , fine job sir.
What a guy he is!
1:00 LET ME FART, for LET ME FIRST START is a classic portmanteau!
"Tell a couple of stories?"
Only a couple?😂😅🤣
I wish Jon and Rick would do a Christmas album or a Christian hymn album
Jon singing “how great thou art “❤❤
How do you come up with this? I’m so reminded of how great he is.
OMG It's Q104.3!
How do you know a drummer is at the door? The knocking speeds up
2:12 That why I think Alex Lifeson's speech was even better..."the blah's" speech, where he never said any words but "blah". Perfect mockery of those nonsense awards :-P
Yep, Best. Acceptance. Speech. Ever!!
I remember seeing an interview with Lou Reed, during a time when prog rock was still the target of much ridicule, and he was dissing his own first solo album (1972) because (amongst other things) "It's got Rick Wakeman on it, for God's sake", as if that was the worst thing ever. Well yeah, Lou, it does, and so has "Hunky Dory", which is one reason why it's such a unique Bowie album and a favorite for so many people.
Cool.
Is that really Rick Wakeman? Hard to tell without the cape...
Well take the cape off then :)
1:00 he said let me fart 😂
49:00 Rick finishes at midday on the clock. Overran by about 5 seconds.
"Let me fart.." lol
I can't think of a comedian who is a better musician.
I want a t-shirt saying simply: IRREVERENT
Rick is pre-eminent among Rock keyboard players. They didn’t call him One Take for nothing. Had Rick taken the classical route in his profession, he’d still have reached the very top. Only Keith Emerson came close in ability.
Live??Didnt look like it to me??
Thank God the rock world got Rick. He would have been wasted in the classical world.
I would love to have several drinks with this bloke💯🍻🎹
Has he done his autobiography yet?
Rick, one of rock music's real characters and a genuinely sound guy. A fantastic raconteur. He's done it all and is one of the great keyboardists.
Well Said. Spot On !
Yes, just watched this gem of an interview.
Totally, love me a bit of Rick Bacon
Yes or No?
he's pretty good synthesizerist too 😁
This man is hysterical. Possibly the best keyboardist ever, been in the greatest bands ever, and still finds time to do stand-up. Awesome Rick. Thank you for all the music.
i never knew that Rick W. was a Comedian and a buddy of Ricky Gervaiz. I gotta watch some of his comedy.
@@cacornhusker2940 Check out his book. Its one of the funniest/most interesting things you'll eve read.
I am always torn between Wakeman and Keith Emmerson as to who is the best keyboard player? Both are incredible
No one is "Best"....It's what you enjoy and what's "Best"for you the listener..@@siroswaldfortitude5346
Pure brilliance on keyboards....and a hell of a nice, grounded human being.
"hell of a nice, grounded human being" *three of his ex-wives will beg to differ*
@@alisonwunderland9900 Ha, me being a man would always blame the wives :)
Or...they just divorced in time, many marriages don't find the right moment to agree on it being time to go seperate ways.
Who knows the truth about the 3 Wives of Rick the Wakeman :)
rick wakeman is always a great interview.
I suffer from depression and prog rock is the only music that wakes me from it,it invigorates my soul like nature does.
Thank you to bands like The Beatles, Crimson,The Moody Blues and Bowie who started the genre,Life On Mars is a song I will never tire of despite how many times I listen to it,that piano melody is so prog!
I remember my folks bringing home a tape of the album Journey To The Centre Of The Earth here in Melbourne,Australia back in the mid 70’s,I was 9 years old at the time,that album blew my mind.
I'm a big Rick Wakeman fan, but that JttCotE album, which I was gifted for my 21st (thanks, Linda!), put me right off him for a while.
Ndlanding King Arthur on ice and all that rigmarole lol.
John Cornell Grew up with them.
John Cornell They had some proggy moments too with songs like In The Light,Kashmir and Achilles Last Stand even Stairway To Heaven.
Walking into Clarksdale should be added to the list of Led Zep esque albums that might be soothing to the soul
He was skint back in the day and needed the money for his rent think it was £9 Marc Bolan heard about it and brought him to the studio, he was recording Get it On. He said he wanted some piano on the track, so Rick did his bit and said to Marc you could have done it yourself.
He said Marc said you want your rent money don’t you. Bolan knew he just would not just accept the money, so he got him to play on Get it On, which wasn’t to have piano on it, I thought that was a very nice thing to do.
I heard it was Elton John, that was playing, on that song...But, I'll agree, outside, the opening fill, it wasn't necessary. It was so buried in the mix.
L. K. Leinenbach Elton John played with the Band on Top of The Pops on TV, but had nothing to do with the recording, the video is on You Tube.
true story??
me thinks Elton John was involved in Marc Boland songs between 1971-1973 approx...
Zack Kohler yes its a true story told by the man himself, Elton John only appeared playing on Get it On on Top of The Pops, and he made an appearance in the Movie Born to Boogie, have not heard of him playing on any T.Rex songs, and i have been a fan for nearly 50 years.
Rick Wakeman is one one those people that should live until 120 years old,so many stories, so many nice things to tell, and so funny,the man is one of a kind.
🎹🎹🎹
Isn’t he a direct descendant of Bach?
That’s what I had heard years ago.
Amazing musician from my all time favorite band.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth is a classic!!!
Isn’t he a direct descendant of Bach?
That’s what I had heard years ago.
Amazing musician from my all time favorite band.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth is a classic!!!
Never knew he was a comedian …
and a pretty darned good one!!!
@@tractortalkwithgary1271 no eartly conection i one of my favorite albuns.
Musical genius... and a very nice guy. 🙂
Love this man. His music has been part of my musical DNA since 1970.
same here...they visited my small college in Nov. '71 and blew us all away!
Definitely, I was introduced to his playing with Yes on the Fragile album.
He just tosses off "Life on Mars" so beautifully -- no prep, just off the cuff. Have been a fan since Fragile, and since Six Wives. The Holy Trinity -- Wakeman, Emerson, and Lord. He's the only one left -- we're so lucky to have him.
Totally agree Mike
Mike ~ Tony Banks is still here! l always include him! He's a BRILLIANT technician!!
I've always had Tony Banks in there with that group as well.
@@zenstain ~ Yea. You cant think about GREAT prog keyboards without songs like 'Cinema Show' sticking right out! l loved Tony's playing! lt was FABULOUS! There are very few TITANS ....and he's one of them! Cheers!
Well Mike...Rod Argent, whom RW credited as having played the greatest Hammond solo ever recorded ( on Hold Your Head Up), is still gigging in 2020 and playing like a demon!! :D
It's interesting the number of "monster" keyboard players & guitarists who came out of the UK during that time. On a per capita basis it was a huge number!
Brilliant musician. Fascinating interview. I could listen to him speak for hours. Great sense of humor.
I could hardly hear him...he needs a sound technician.
@@kingrobert1st The mic could have been placed closer to Rick's mouth. I had to turn up the volume.
Aside from being the best keyboard player in the business, Rick's a down to earth, funny man.