Rick Wakeman is one of the most tragically under-used talents ever. Dude not only has all those musical, comedic and storytelling chops, but he's just so much else besides...and most importantly, he laughs at himself more joyously than anyone else. A good egg, he is.
Rick is a great raconteur and one of the UK's greatest performers. Hopefully, someone will recognise this and decide to knight him before it's too late.
Yes indeed, sir!!!! He talked onstage about Keith Emerson on a tribute due to Emerson's death, and all his memories on the 'E' are fantastically funny! Of course he had to go that way, so the people could remember Keith Emerson as a funny man himself too.... I'm sure Keith wouldn't like tears on him, so Rick made an awesome job to keep the crowd happy in the middle of a sad moment. Rest In Peace MAESTRO KEITH EMERSON AND MASTER GREG LAKE. Another word: both Rick and Keith kicked arse!
When i worked for tesco in bury St Edmunds Suffolk around 2008 it seemed to be the go to supermarket for celebrities, john peel was a regular customer as was boy George's old mate and one hit wonder marylin, i watched him walk around the shop floor around 11.30pm singing the greatest love of all, he was at the time a client of a local rehab center, weirdly witney Houston passed shortly after ! I saw rick wakeman leaving the store and i couldn't help shouting from my van thanks for shopping at tesco mr wakeman, he looked surprised but waved back with a smile, top geezer.
I also was at one of his concerts in Seattle and saw him play the wurlitzer organ but I recall a fantastic performance and not the one he describes in this story. Another year or a performance of his own and not with YES perhaps?
He is indeed. I saw him a year ago in Solihull - he's just the same and his keyboard (in this case Grand Piano) skills are every good as they ever were...
I met him, briefly, at a Manchester City v Gillingham match. After I said hello Mr Wakeman and he said call me Rick please we had a nice chat. Sound bloke.
Seeing this reminded me how he was meticulous as he says in this video, in sound checking, tuning and prepping for a long time before a show in Gainesville at UF in early 1974. We were working supposedly, students doing security 😂, for a few hours before a Yes show which of course blew us away. Funny that the (i think it was) quadraphonic system didn’t work even though set up, quad technology in general seemed like that. We were very impressed of course with the whole affair and I became a fan of his and the whole band for life.
Got to see him on tour in 2022 doing his comedy & music tour, it was fantastic. Got to see him play Seahorses live, a personal favorite of mine I never thought I'd see him play live, I was ecstatic.
Gordon Neville, who was one of Rick's live vocalists and who I used to do recording studio vocal sessions with, told me this story back in the late 1980s - I cracked up.
@@dr.princemauriceparker5928 There are two Wakeman's biographical books : "Grumpy Old Rockstar and Other Wondrous Stories" and "Further Adventures of a Grumpy Old Rock Star". They are available also in Digital format.
Yay! I'll be reading 'Dorian Grey' in the next week or so, amongst other stuff. 'I find that drinking alcohol in sufficient quantities can produce the effects of drunkeness' - have a super weekend!
Rick Wakeman used to be on a digital rock staion called planet rock he used to tell stories of his past favorite one was the one take piano for David Bowie life on mars as he wanted to get back to the pub
Love the story about Rick and his band getting arrested walking through customs at an airport in West Germany wearing pilot goggles whistling the dambusters theme.
Rick Wakeman is one of the most tragically under-used talents ever. Dude not only has all those musical, comedic and storytelling chops, but he's just so much else besides...and most importantly, he laughs at himself more joyously than anyone else. A good egg, he is.
“TRAGICALLY under-used”? What prize does UA-cam award for the most hyperbolic comment? The competition seems to be fierce.
under used and underrated and the most tragically over used comments on the internet........oh yeah.....that and "he's a narcissist" is right up there
Learn his history.
Well it took him half a century....😂
How can people dislike this man.
Rick is a great raconteur and one of the UK's greatest performers. Hopefully, someone will recognise this and decide to knight him before it's too late.
Rick Wakeman is a brilliant storyteller. A very erudite and intelligent man. Bravo!
This had me laughing so hard. Hilarious story. The review was the total kicker.
He is funnier than most comedians.
+EltonBeatles Tru dat
Yes indeed, sir!!!! He talked onstage about Keith Emerson on a tribute due to Emerson's death, and all his memories on the 'E' are fantastically funny! Of course he had to go that way, so the people could remember Keith Emerson as a funny man himself too.... I'm sure Keith wouldn't like tears on him, so Rick made an awesome job to keep the crowd happy in the middle of a sad moment. Rest In Peace MAESTRO KEITH EMERSON AND MASTER GREG LAKE.
Another word: both Rick and Keith kicked arse!
IQ
Does he play?
@@David-iv6je multidisciplinairily.
Multiple Keyboard as well as comedy 😂😂😂
What a talent. Both keyboards and Comedian!
Rick, absolutely genius, also a lovely guy. ❤👊🙂👍
How could anyone dislike this ? Rick is so amiable and funny plus an incredibly brilliant keyboardist, shame on you for disliking this...
Absolutely brilliant! What a performer! And I believe every word.
When i worked for tesco in bury St Edmunds Suffolk around 2008 it seemed to be the go to supermarket for celebrities, john peel was a regular customer as was boy George's old mate and one hit wonder marylin, i watched him walk around the shop floor around 11.30pm singing the greatest love of all, he was at the time a client of a local rehab center, weirdly witney Houston passed shortly after ! I saw rick wakeman leaving the store and i couldn't help shouting from my van thanks for shopping at tesco mr wakeman, he looked surprised but waved back with a smile, top geezer.
Rick Wakeman is astonishingly articulate.
I can't say how many times I have seen this, and it cracks me up every time!
Rick, may you live forever... ;)
I've been (more than) enjoying your amazing music for over 40 years and... just love you, man.
fantastic story from a great man and musician!it´s impossible not to like Rick Wakeman and the way he describes is stories!
Never knew Rick Wakeman was a comedian😂I laughed way to hard at this. God love you Rick ❤❤❤😂
You should catch Rick interviewing his son Adam. Hysterical!
watch the video of him at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Hysterical.
"It never is, when you are by yourself..."
Steve Howe wasn't so delighted with Rick's jokes though. He wrote that in his biography.
Unbelievable... I was at that concert in Seattle... with Rick playing the wirlitzer... coming up by hydraulics through the floor in the stage...
I also was at one of his concerts in Seattle and saw him play the wurlitzer organ but I recall a fantastic performance and not the one he describes in this story. Another year or a performance of his own and not with YES perhaps?
Did it go more or less how he told it?
Blow by blow....
saw yes with rick back in the 70s. as the show progressed, a line of empty heinekens formed one by one along the top of one of his keyboards.
Fabulous story - Rick's a terrific raconteur
He is indeed. I saw him a year ago in Solihull - he's just the same and his keyboard (in this case Grand Piano) skills are every good as they ever were...
i saw him on at lemington spa, he didnt have his keyboards just a piano he was superb!
Rick is the best ever he and Keith Emerson are the only ones we need for fantastic symphonies. Long live Mr. Wakeman!!
I met him, briefly, at a Manchester City v Gillingham match. After I said hello Mr Wakeman and he said call me Rick please we had a nice chat. Sound bloke.
Well, Wakeman is a pure wonder and I love him. Let him be drunk as a gifted storyteller and keyboard player. Rick, carry on as long as you can!
Absolutely hilarious! I love it!
Génie! Love you maestro! My fav prog keyboard player ever.
One of the funniest stories Ive ever heard,,,,,
Rick could have made a living as a comedian. I am glad he stuck mainly with music.
Seen this a few times, but it never gets old! Bravo Wakey! xD
Rick...multi -talented!!
Hilarious...He can do stand up.. God bless him.
Priceless could listen to Wakeman all day which is really what I've been doing for the past few weeks thank you for sharing !!!
Seeing this reminded me how he was meticulous as he says in this video, in sound checking, tuning and prepping for a long time before a show in Gainesville at UF in early 1974. We were working supposedly, students doing security 😂, for a few hours before a Yes show which of course blew us away. Funny that the (i think it was) quadraphonic system didn’t work even though set up, quad technology in general seemed like that. We were very impressed of course with the whole affair and I became a fan of his and the whole band for life.
Got to see him on tour in 2022 doing his comedy & music tour, it was fantastic. Got to see him play Seahorses live, a personal favorite of mine I never thought I'd see him play live, I was ecstatic.
Amazing person!!👏
He's literally a Stand Up Comedian too! As if he wasn't already ultra talented enough haha! Proper natural hilarious storyteller!
Genius will be genius...great impro.
This was hilarious.... the way he tells the story had me LMAO...
I was there!! AWESOME!!!!!
Great! How much of Ricks story is true? Or is it embelished for comic effect? Still a funny story
Can we just have Wakeman telling stories all night and possibly performing one Yes number at the end?
Alexander Williams can we have all of Rick and no Yes songs !
This man just compressed all the hilarity of Spinal Tap into 8 minutes. My ribs shant recover.
What a great storyteller!
This is a riot!
What a great entertainer he is!
Fantastic. Thanks for posting!
this is incredible. what a talent
no disikes :D! damn right! wakeman IS the man!
Brilliant cannot stop laughing !!!
Two in one! Anecdotal humorous artful comedy twinned with rhapsodical music
Gordon Neville, who was one of Rick's live vocalists and who I used to do recording studio vocal sessions with, told me this story back in the late 1980s - I cracked up.
Read his autobiography , it's the funniest book I've ever read !!
rockypup1968 you’ve got to tell me the name of this book and where I can buy it!
@@dr.princemauriceparker5928 There are two Wakeman's biographical books : "Grumpy Old Rockstar and Other Wondrous Stories" and "Further Adventures of a Grumpy Old Rock Star". They are available also in Digital format.
@@yestopographic73, THANKS!!!
Glad he's not under the influence of the dangerous alcohol drug.
Sounds great - he was a cad back in the day! Nice username btw - I'm doing a module on Oscar Wilde at Uni!
Yay! I'll be reading 'Dorian Grey' in the next week or so, amongst other stuff.
'I find that drinking alcohol in sufficient quantities can produce the effects of drunkeness' - have a super weekend!
- fantastically cool dude!
Rick is Awesome
Awww! Thank you! You too!
Lol😅 brilliant
Great story. Nice man.
Rick’s stories are as good as his playing!
Great genuine bloke.
Rickwakeman is doing a Last Tour 25 dates and one of them is at the Paramount in Peekskill NY
Wish the recording of the show was released (1975 at Paramount Theatre btw)
Rick Wakeman used to be on a digital rock staion called planet rock he used to tell stories of his past favorite one was the one take piano for David Bowie life on mars as he wanted to get back to the pub
Delightful
A 'Spinal Tap' moment for sure LOL.
HAHAHAhahahaha!!! My stomach is killing me! XD
that was awesome !!!!!
Hilarious story Rick.
Great stories. Every one is hilarious.
Love the story about Rick and his band getting arrested walking through customs at an airport in West Germany wearing pilot goggles whistling the dambusters theme.
Thankyou xx
We need a link to that performance.
Like to see that tape. :-)
Hilarious
Absolutely the funniest musician. If only his keyboard playing was as good.
Yeah, it’s a shame.
@@halweiss8671
Lol out loud.
@@stuartmazzeo2516 I usually only lol to myself.
@@halweiss8671
See. Music got you to share the laughter. Go Music!!!
Cool Rick
This man is a God! 😊
Ladies and gentlemen...Mr. Rick Wakeman.
Tales has some great parts, and some of those parts were Wakeman's. Despite this, he never stops dissing it.
Would love to see a Gervais Wakeman double act - maybe David Brent trying to hire Wakeman to play Brent's songs.
😬 what a great guy
Rick Wakeman was drunk during Yes topographic tour - as he claimed himself
Where can I fond the tape this performance?
I never was sober on stage. Not once.
Where is that tape??? :)
I wish I was that good at drinking
14 people have never been drunk on stage and are jealous.
Anyone know where this was filmed? I'm SURE I can see myself in the audience but I'm buggered if I remember this show!
Ah... The excesses of prog rock. 😅
If anyone has that tape, it is your civic duty to share it on the internet.
Alex lifeson and Wakeman would cancel each other out
I demand the tape
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Keyboard King 🎹
I saw them in Fresno. He had about 20 empty bottles of beer on his organ.
the seattle theater was built 1929
And I just thought his shiny capes were funny!
Not thefist to do it and I am sure not the last.
Lololol