https://www.vanityfair.com/sty...ck-icon-rick-wakeman

Good article. Didn't realize the struggles Wakeman endured and overcame, both physically and financially.

Just brings back memories of growing up listening to YES and especially the works of Wakeman. "King Arthur..." is one of my favorites, as I was not only studying classical piano, but also a Baritone in choir when it was released. I only caught a glimpse of playing and singing to that album...

Thanks, just happening to be listening to my collection now (well it is cued up in the car, anyway).
Saw then live in and around 1980.

I'll check it out. Long time Yes fan...in fact, first concert in 1974....Relayer tour. I always thought the Close to the Edge line up was the best.

I did an album review for my high school newspaper on Wakeman's Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The solo he did during the ABWH show (first of two I saw IIRC) was one of the greatest things I've ever seen performed. Simply awesome.

Thanks for the read. Lifelong Yes fan, never knew of his problems.

Thanks for the article, erj_pilot. I saw Rick with Yes several times in the 70s and his solo tour in 1976. I loved prog rock from that era and Rick was a great musician.

I was a late blooming Yes fan, probably first saw them around 1993, when Tony Kaye was back with them. I saw Rick play with Trevor Rabin and Job Anderson in Phoenix a few years ago, which was so awesome. I ran into Chris Squire at the Rainbow in LA about 12 yrs ago. Peter Criss took a photo of us together. I have met a lot of rock stars, but was never so star struck as in that encounter.

"One take Wakeman' has always been good.

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting it for us. I had no idea he'd lost everything at such a huge time in his life.

“Yes” was my very first rock concert experience… but Wakeman wasn’t in the band at the time.

I remember a three-headed monster was suspended above the band… and they had these really cool lights called “lasers” that projected through the marijuana haze of the Fort Wayne (IN) Coliseum. Maybe 1977?

Thanks for the article. I saw them (English Rock Ensemble) on the Journey to the Center of the Earth tour, 10/9/75 in New Haven, CT.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Blackmore,

First LP I ever bought:

I saw him with "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe" in 1989. And then again a couple years later during the Yes "Union" tour which briefly brought the old and new Yes lineups together. His solo bit is always fun to watch.

Thank you for posting the article.

In high school (mid to late 70’s), my good friend Greg Di Benedetto who lived three or four houses up the street started a band that covered Yes and Led Zeppelin almost exclusively.

I became a huge Yes fan (and Zep) as a result of attending many of the band’s garage practices and concerts.

I had the good fortune of seeing Yes play at MSG, in Glenns Falls and Montreal.

Greg went on to become the publisher of Guitar World for almost 30 years and then started his own magazine, Guitar Aficionado.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:
First LP I ever bought:

One of my favorite Yes albums, but Wakeman was not a member yet, Tony Kaye was the piano/keyboardist on this one. My other favorites, Fragile and Close To The Edge, had Wakeman onboard, the latter album Bill Bruford's last with Yes. But an amazing band; Bruford, Howe, Squire, and Wakeman, all among the best, individual virtuosos on their respective instruments, and together a hell of a band. The only thing I have from Wakeman is his Six Wives of Henry VIII CD, but haven't played it in years.

The Vanity Fair article was an interesting read, thanks.

A Yes fan since my early teens, starting with Close to the Edge.
Saw them live several times, first and most memorable was the Going for the One Tour in Antwerpen, Belgium. That was the best, the worst was Drama Tour when the Buggles joined the band. Anderson always sang. White at the drums and Howe at the guitar, others came and went. Might have seen Brufford but not 100% sure.

Also a big fan of Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Yes and particularly G4T1 is great for skiing.

Recently discovered Yes Progeny and about to test how hardcore fan i still am. It’s a box set composed of recordings of a Yes tour in the mid 70’s

Yes is ever present in any music library i make. Wuite enjoyed The Ladder, from the most recent years.

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quote:

Yes Progeny

That sounds interesting!

Interesting documentary/history of YES.

If you started pigeon holeing
R&R bands ,

Would there be anyone else in that particular category?

If you had a category in your computer juke box titled
Bands like Yes.

Are there any?

Maybe that's why I like them so much.