If you were to pick one image that defines prog rock, it’s probably Rick Wakeman, glittering golden cape around his shoulders, playing (at least) two keyboards at once. Wakeman was a key driver of Yes’s imperial phase, spanning 1971’s Fragile to 1973’s soon-to-be-reissued Tales From Topographic Oceans, and he would return to the band several times over the years.
If you were to pick one image that defines prog rock, it’s probably Rick Wakeman, glittering golden cape around his shoulders, playing (at least) two keyboards at once. Wakeman was a key driver of Yes’s imperial phase, spanning 1971’s Fragile to 1973’s soon-to-be-reissued Tales From Topographic Oceans, and he would return to the band several times over the years.
He also made a name for himself outside Yes with conceptual spectaculars such as Journey To The Centre Of The Earth and The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur. These days, he tends to operate at the more intimate end of the scale – his latest effort, Melancholia, is an album of wistful solo piano pieces.
Of course, that’s also Wakeman’s piano you can hear on Hunky Dory, Lou Reed’s eponymous debut solo album, and even Sabbath Bloody Sabbath – a session for which he was apparently paid in beer.
So, what do you want to ask the king of keyboards? Send your questions to audiencewith@uncut.co.uk by Tuesday January 27 and Rick will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut.
