Where are they now? - Rick Wakeman
This page last updated: 15 Nov 2008
On this page: Solo projects - Cutting back touring - Collaborations - Re-releases/archival releases - Media appearances, charity work etc.
On other pages: Yes news - Anderson & Wakeman - Billy Sherwood's tribute albums (with Wakeman)
Rick Wakeman's official site: Rick Wakeman's Communication Centre (Note that Wakeman does not have a MySpace site)
In the RWCC Winter Newsletter 2007, Wakeman explains that he did little recording in 2007, saying, "I did not do enough composition that pleased me enough to want to record, but then at the end of the year, the juices started flowing and I have a log jam of music now sitting in my "music drawer"." He goes on, "I have two other [in addition to the Gordon Giltrap collaboration—see below] recording projects in mind for 2008, both of which are in embryonic stages". And: "I have also made a few musical resolutions for 2008 and the main one is that I need to get myself involved in more few differing areas of music and the arts in general, in order that I can try to move forward more on the creative front. I have been in discussion with a few people as regards "interesting" collaborations".
Wakeman
and Yes
Rick Wakeman is out of Yes, replaced by his eldest son Oliver—see
discussion on main page.
Solo
releases
"Rick
Wakeman's Grumpy Old Picture Show" DVD (Classic
Studio T, DVD5070X) is now
out. The release was filmed on 2007's
tour. Wakeman promised it "will also have some additional
footage".
Retro 2 (President Records) is a 'retro' rock album using vintage keyboards (including Hammond M102, Leslie Cabinet, Korg Mono/Poly, Moog Polymoog, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Korg Electric Piano ES50, RMI Electra Piano, Mellotron M400, Korg Trident, Mini Moog, Korg Vocoder, Moog Taurus Pedals, Moog Taurus Pedals II, Korg Sigma, Cry Baby Wah Wah Pedal) and follow-up to the earlier Retro. Wakeman is accompanied by a band, also on vintage instruments, of Tony Fernandez (drums), Lee Pomeroy (bass) and Dave Cooney Colquhoun (ex-Ian Brown, ex-Bow Wow Wow; guitar). Lead vocals are by Elliot Tuffin and, on two tracks, daughter Jemma Wakeman. In the RWCC Winter Newsletter 2007, Wakeman said there would not be a Retro 3 due to sales of Retro 2 not being as good as for Retro.
"Amazing Grace" (Studio T (Classic Media Group)) is a 2-disc DVD and CD set; also available as audio and video downloads. The instrumental set consists of traditional Christian hymns arranged and performed on grand piano by Wakeman. The DVD shows Wakeman performing live in the studio compined with graphics and imagery by Robert Garofalo (worked with Yes). CD tracks: "Amazing Grace" (featuring Jemma Wakeman and The English Chamber Choir), "Now Thank We All Our God", "There is a Green Hill Far Away", "Morning has Broken", "Glad That I Live am I", "All Things Bright & Beautiful", "Jesu, Lover of My Soul", "Nearer, My God, to Thee", "Jerusalem", "Come, O Come, Emmanuel", "All People That on Earth Do Dwell", "I Vow to Thee, My Country", "When We Walk with the Lord (Trust & Obey)", "Hills of the North, Rejoice", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", "Abide with Me", "Ode to Joy", "The Day Thou Gavest", "Amazing Grace" (alternative version). The DVD omits "Now Thank We All Our God", "Jesu, Lover Of My Soul", "Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Hills of the North, Rejoice" and presents the other tracks in a different order to the CD. "Amazing Grace" was released as a download-only single exclusive to iTunes.
Wakeman previously announced a DVD of 1930s-style swing music, probably for Classic Pictures, to be filmed at Shepperton Studios and to be released in 2006, although it has yet to appear. It is planned to include both material from the '30s and new compositions. Wakeman will be performing with a band, a brass section and backing singers and hopes also to have a variety of guest vocalists. The performance will be in period costume. Wakeman is also planning a crossover Christian album for a US label, which was due to be completed by around mid-Mar 2006 for release in late summer, but has yet to appear. Wakeman has also talked of planning a piano-based album.Retiring from some touring
and
a new focus
Wakeman has retired from more substantial solo
tours and is focusing more on TV and radio work (see below).
He was doing shorter solo tours, but is now concentrating on one-off
performances. His last UK tour was the Spring 2008 leg
of his
Grumpy Old Picture
Show. Plans for a
Grumpy Old Xmas
Picture Show tour and a summer 2009 leg have been cancelled. Wakeman
explains in the Summer 2008 RWCC Newsletter: "attendances
[for the 2008 leg] were considerably down on what was anticipated and
whilst some towns did do well, too many did not and the end result of
this means that there will be no more Grumpy Old Picture Shows [...] It
will almost certainly bring to an end any such touring in the future as
well, so the plan just to concentrate on specials and one-offs seems to
have arrived slightly earlier than anticipated".
I will have to slow down from the pace of the last few years. [...]
I announced two years ago that for various reasons I would be winding down my touring activities with my last major year of touring being 2006. I said after that I would be doing special projects, one-offs and the odd one or two week spell of performing and that would be it. [...]In an Aug 2005 YESFANZ interview, he said:I’m entering a new phase in my life. Television has been very good to me in the UK with the Grumpy Old Men series as well as Countdown and other programs. I want to develop this area more if I can. Radio as well. [...]
I have about four special projects I’m working on and am hoping they come to fruition. They’re all looking good at the moment but I’ve been in this business too long to count chickens. I need to do more writing and recording for my own satisfaction. I have a list of things I have to do, and at the age of 57, (58 next year) ; I really have to start bringing these dreams to reality. [...]
I am also health conscious now. I have had a chequered medical history and have had my wrists slapped many times. I have also witnessed the loss of many friends recently over the last two or three years plus others who have suffered other seriously rehabilitating illnesses. I truly feel that God keeps pointing this out to me and I must take it as a warning if I am to be able to continue making music which is the gift he gave me. I have to re-think my life. I can’t go on at this pace. My average day for the last two years has started at 5.45am and has finished at midnight at very best.
Over the last few years [...] I have been going dolally really. [...] I've really enjoyed working back with the guys in Yes but [...] [with Yes and solo work] I've been averaging about 150 shows per year [...] health wise its been up and down. I'm 56 going on 57 and I can't do it. [...] I've got a lot of TV shows [...] I've been offered more and I've turned them down because they want you for a three week block and you can't do it because you've got to go on this tour. [...] I've had to turn down some nice film work. I had to turn down a chance to be involved in a musical; I had to turn down a chance to compose. All these things, [...] I really want to do [...] I had a clinical breakdown about 5 years ago or six years ago, I wasn't very well; and again it was pressure [...] you have to buy the time and in order to do that something has to give and I came to the conclusion early this year that the only way to do that would be to cut out the touring. If one-offs come up [...] you are there like a shot but actually to pack a suitcase to go away on a tour...A May 2006 article had more: Wakeman said, "I am running out of time and having no home life and no chance to write and record. I am so happy around here, my partner Rachel and I do not like going away." In his Spring Newsletter 2006, he lamented the lack of interest my agents and promoters in further farwell dates, but says:
I still intend to do one-off shows wherever and whenever they are offered and are viable, but the days of solo touring have come to an end now.This still leaves the loads of opportunities to tour as a duo, or trio with other people
Live shows
(guest appearances are further down)
In Jul, Wakeman 4 solo dates in Japan. He
played a solo piano concert on 5 Oct in Norfolk, UK. On 1 Sep
2008, Wakeman (on grand piano) was due to perform a concert with
the Plovdiv
Philharmonic Orchestra and their choir in Bulgaria. The 90-minute concert has had
orchestral arrangements especially done by Guy Protheroe (leader of the English Chamber Choir)
and Wakeman was also writing
orchestral parts for the event, and hopes to do
further shows along the same lines around the world.
Wakeman was to perform The New Gospels at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, UK on 24 Jul 2008 with Ramon Remedios (tenor), the English Chamber Choir (conducted by Guy Protheroe), Garfield Morgan (narrator), Simon Merry and Phil Laughlin. However, the the show has been indefinitely postponed. The show was to be in aid of Claire House Children's Hospice. In 2006, he did a number of performances of The New Gospels, all with son Adam Wakeman (keys), Remedios and the English Chamber Choir. The possibility has also been mooted of a performance with orchestra in Seoul, South Korea.
In Dec 2007, he played at
Norwich Cathedral with daughter Jemma Wakeman, Christopher Strauli,
Ramon Remedios, Gordon
Giltrap, Dave Colquhoun and the English Chamber Choir. (I am
unclear who is playing with Rick and who
might be a support act.) Proceeds of this charity concert will go to
the Norfolk Churches Trust and the Norwich Cathedral. Two more shows
are planned for 18-9 Dec
2008, pending confirmation.
In May 2007, as part of the second Four Churches Festival, taking place at various churches in Norfolk, there was a concert by Giltrap, reportedly including some duets with Wakeman. The set was to be filmed for future release on Voiceprint. Wakeman is also collaborating further with Giltrap—see below.
In an Aug
2007 interview, Wakeman said, "I am booked for Brazil next August
to
perform King Arthur with a symphony orchestra and choir." However, this plan appears to have
fallen through with financing problems. Wakeman and
members
of the English Rock Ensemble in Aug said they were booked to perform King
Arthur... and Journey to the Centre of the Earth in Brazil
in
summer 2008. However, in the RWCC
Winter Newsletter 2007, Wakeman says that "there are no firm plans for
any English Rock Ensemble performances although offers have continued
to come in. Nothing has been firmed up, although it is highly unlikely
that there will not be at least a few band shows somewhere in the world
in 2008 subject to everybody's availability." He goes on:
Other solo work
Wakeman has done the score for the forthcoming
documentary film "Aleister
Crowley—The Wickedest Man in the World: In Search of the Great Beast 666".
In an Aug 2007 interview,
he said, "I'm currently involved in a stage musical, two other films
and
a stage juggling show!"
In a May 2005 report, Wakeman says that after ending live work in 2006, he "will concentrate on recording and writing for films wherever and whenever possible." In recent years, Wakeman has been doing some soundtrack work. He has been director of the music division at Write Good Films. IMDB.com report that Wakeman is doing the music for a UK film currently in production called "Out of Reach". In an Apr 2004 interview, he says, "I've got this soundtrack thing coming up", but no details were given. In his Christmas 2004 Newsletter, he says he hopes to do more film and TV work. In Apr 2005, Wakeman said he was doing music for an animated children's feature about Noah. He had previously said that he would finish recording of his "Noah" project (performed live with the English Chamber Choir in 1997), but I am unclear whether this is connected or not. In the Nov interview, he said he would like "to do more work with orchestras and choirs and also some more film scoring which I really enjoy."
There are negotiations around remastered re-releases and possibly new recordings of Wakeman's Hope Records releases for the US. New DVD releases are also involved, including a new version of "The New Gospels". This would include some new music and be released as a DVD/2CD set.
In a Jan 2003 interview, Wakeman said that there is a good chance that his album The Wizard and the Forest of All Dreams will be turned into a ballet. Early in 2001, Wakeman's newsletter said: "[2001-2] will see Rick concentrating hard on getting major projects off of the ground." This may include a new version of his ballet "Killing Grounds", a.k.a. "Triumph of Death". Wakeman has been working on a follow-up to Hopesongs with music for weddings and funerals, presumably again with Howard Prior. He was planning some pieces with vocals from daughter Jemma; and a keyboard concerto. He expressed the hope to record a "major themed work" in conjunction with Italian television. In a Jul 2004 interview in Switzerland, Wakeman said: "I have a dream to have a year off to do solo work and DVDs etc. However people ask me to do TV shows, concerts, so the dream never happens." While touring Cuba in Apr 2005, Wakeman said he hoped to return to Cuba several times to work with local artists. He expanded on these comments in an interview: "There were three or four very unique musicians [in Cuba] that I have to say I would love to collaborate with in a recording. Very unique styles and forms of writing that I think would fuse well with my orchestral rock way of working, but only time will tell if this is likely to happen."
Collaborations
& guest appearances
From
Brush and Stone (Voiceprint)
is the new album from Wakeman and Gordon
Giltrap. The album is
initially due in Nov in a 1000-copy limited edition with a bonus
interview DVD from a dedicated microsite before a subsequent regular
release. Giltrap appeared on Wakeman's
radio show
on 15 Dec 2007: the duo played
"Maddie Goes West"
and described how the album consists of two "classical"-style suites,
one by each of them. As I
understand it, in addition to these two suites, there will be two
further pieces: "Maddie Goes West" and "By Angle Tarn". Wakeman's suite
for piano and guitar is inspired by sculpture and includes "The Kiss"
and "Michelangelo's David", while Giltrap's is five-movements from "The
Brotherhood" suite, a 1987 composition inspired by the 19th century Pre-Raphaelite
Brotherhood. The album was mixed by frequent
Wakeman collaborator, Erik Jordan. Further
collaborations are possible. Wakeman also
plays live with Giltrap: see
above for prior dates. Giltrap,
John Etheridge and Raymond
Burley are all guitarists and they are having a joint 60th birthday
celebration with a special
night of their Three Parts Guitar show at
Birmingham Town Hall on 20 Sep: Wakeman will be a special guest.
On 25 Sep in London, Wakeman
was due as a guest at The
Sunflower Jam 2008 (MySpace page), in aid of the
Complementary Therapy Team at UCLH
and The Sam Buxton
Sunflower Healing Trust that supports integrated and supportive
care for cancer patients in the UK. The Sunflower Jam is organised by
Jacky Paice, Ian
Paice's wife and Jon Lord's
sister-in-law. Deep
Purple (with I. Paice) headlined the Jam, with Lord also
guesting with the band for the first time in several years. Wakeman
was the Master of Ceremonies and I believe was also due to be
performing.
Other guests included Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden; vocals),
Micky Moody (Whitesnake; guitar), Zalon and Ade (Amy
Winehouse; vocals), Steve Balsamo (The Storys; vocals)
and Gwendoline Lamour
(burlesque performer). The house band was Margo Buchanan (vocals),
"Aitch" McRobbie (vocals), Murray Gould (guitar), Nick Fyffe (bass) and Jerry Brown
(drums).
Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have been working together as a duo. An album has been expected and they toured the UK in late 2006 with a set list including new material, but mostly Yes songs. See details here. Their debut show was in Jul 2006 in Quebec.
In an Aug
2004 interview, asked about plans for a collaboration with Keith
Emerson, Wakeman said: "it's still on the shelf waiting to
perhaps
happen. Keith and I regularly talk about it. But the offers we've had
to
record have been nowhere near what would be necessary to produce the
standard
of end result that we would both want. I suppose if that offer appears,
we would be off and running." Plans existed for both an album, for
which
some music has been written, and tour. In a late 2007
interview, Emerson said:
Wakeman and Emerson were due to play together for one piece, joined by Chris Squire, Alan White and Simon Kirke (drums) at the Ahmet Ertegün memorial show in London, originally in Nov. However, the show was rescheduled and Wakeman was not available for the new 10 Dec date, although the others performed—see details on main page. The RWCC website adds, "Rick would also like to make it clear that this was a one off event and that there are no plans whatsoever to appear with Keith in the future."
Wakeman appears on Back Against the Wall, a tribute album to Pink Floyd's The Wall, and Led Box: The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin; all organised by Sherwood—see details here.The Strawbs and related
activities
Wakeman joined The
(acoustic) Strawbs live for the first time in over 20 years for a
selected
audience at Shepperton Studios in mid-Apr 2007. Their performance was
broadcast
on Wakeman's radio show, Rick's Place, in
May 2007.
The acoustic line-up of The Strawbs consists of Dave Cousins (guitar,
vocals),
Dave Lambert (guitar, vocals) and Chas Cronk (bass, bass pedals,
vocals).
Witchwood Records have released a 4CD box set, A Taste of Strawbs (with a limited edition initial 5CD version). It includes several tracks with Wakeman: disc 1 Eyes Wide Open (1966-1971) includes "Where am I/I'll Show You Where to Sleep" (1970 Strawbs live track), and "Canondale", "Sheep" and "RMW" (1971 Strawbs live tracks, probably from a BBC session—"RMW" is a solo Wakeman instrumental). Disc 3 Inside Out (1975-1988) includes "The Hangman and the Papist" (from Wakeman's 1983 TV talk show "Gas Tank": line-up of Cousins, Ford, Hooper, Hudson and Wakeman) and "Song of a Sad Little Girl" (1988 Wakeman and Cousins live recording). Disc 4 Further Down the Road (1990-2006) includes "The King" (Wakeman and Cousins Hummingbird outtake).
[Support this website by buying Live, Recollection and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]
Re-releases/archival releases
Hux Records
have released the 2CD Live
at the BBC containing two 1976 shows with the English Rock
Ensemble
(Ashley Holt—vocals, Roger Newell—bass, John Dunsterville—guitar, Tony
Fernandez—drums, Reg Brooks—trombone, Martin Shields—trumpet). Disc one
consists of a previously unreleased BBC Radio 1 performance recorded 17
Jun 1976: "Music Reincarnate - Part III, The Spaceman", "Catherine
Howard"
(extended version), "Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight", "Arthur",
"Music
Reincarnate - Part IV, The Realisation", "The Forest", "Catherine
Parr",
"The Prisoner", "Merlin the Magician. Disc two is the complete Old
Grey
Whistle Test recording recorded 27 Apr 1976: "Recollection", "Music
Reincarnate - Part IV, The Realisation", "Sir Lancelot and the Black
Knight",
"Music Reincarnate - Part III, The Spaceman", "Catherine Parr", "The
Prisoner",
"Merlin the Magician". The material on the second disc was previously
released
as Live on the Test. A 16-page booklet includes extensive
notes,
comments from Wakeman and period photos.
The Caped Crusader Collection is an extensive beat-the-boots series for 2006 on Voiceprint. This was described as "soon to launch" in Wakeman's Spring Newsletter 2006. The recordings in the series have been sourced and catalogued by Daniel Earnshaw (Explore Multimedia), who previously worked on the Treasure Chest release and The Lost Tapes series for Jon Anderson. Wakeman spoke previously about the project: in an Apr 2002 interview, he said, "we know of 111 bootlegs of my stuff out there [...] [W]e are going to reproduce, at special bargain prices, every bootleg. We will have them all re-done, with additional things, and all nice packages and we are just going to fight the bootleggers at their own game." An early report said the releases will only be available through Voiceprint's website. Managing Director Rob Ayling also had this to say: "It will go well beyond what we started with the Treasure Chest. This project is very exciting and possible the most comprehensive ever under taken by such a well known artist such as Rick". In Wakeman's Christmas Newsletter 2004, he described "cleaned up bootleg product and other rare artefacts" and said they plan to open the series with 20 releases, while in his Spring Newsletter 2006, he spoke of "over the next few years [...] in excess of 100 recordings available to buy or in some cases, download" including the Caped Crusader Collection, Music Fusion releases and more.
Also from Voiceprint is the Rick Wakeman Video Vault series, currently only available through a dedicated website. (The RWCC site says, "The discount code for getting the reduced price on their site is "moog"". A limited number of sampler DVDs are available free on a first-come-first-served basis.) This begins with a limited edition (1000 copies) 6-DVD boxset (RICKDVDBOX1) consisting of five concert films, described as "official DVD bootlegs", and a sixth DVD consisting of a one-hour interview filmed for this project in Jan 2007 plus some rarities. It appears that the concert films will be released individually at a later date, although the interview disc will remain exclusive to the box set. All the DVDs are Region 0 NTSC. Earlier reports suggested a series of releases, but it is unclear whether there will be any beyond these five. The individual shows are:
Music Fusion (Voiceprint's Rick Wakeman label) have re-released Wakeman's solo albums 1984 (MFVP101CD), its first UK release on CD; Cost of Living (MFVP102CD); Tribute (MFVP107CD); Almost Live in Europe (MFVP108CD); White Rock II (MFVP110CD); G'olé! (MFVP123CD), its first CD release; a remastered Christmas Variations (MFVP109CD); and The Burning (MFVP116CD). Voiceprint have also released a Rick Wakeman compilation in their Sixty Minutes With... series (VP6015CD).
Wakeman was investigating the possibility of releasing an album with music from his soundtracks for "Bullet to Beijing" and "Midnight in Moscow", but rights to the music have yet to be sorted.
TV and radio work
Wakeman is focusing more on TV and radio work
now, having retired from solo touring (see above).
In the "Classic Rock Presents Prog Rock" magazine special (UK, released
Jun 2007, see main page for details),
Wakeman
said, "[I] have been offered two series of my own for next year
[2008]." In the Rick Wakeman
Communication Centre Winter 2007 newsletter, Wakeman laments that 2007
was not a "fruitful" as previous years, although he did do 10 episodes
of Countdown. He did further Countdowns in 2008. He goes to
say
that he did turn down
several offers, including for I'm a
Celebrity...
Get Me Out of Here and Hell's
Kitchen. Wakeman also presented "a few ideas"
to production companies, some of which "got very close" but did not
ultimately make it. He is going
on Celebrity
Mastermind for the BBC and
appeared on The One Show in
Aug. In the Summer 2008
RWCC Newsletter, he describes being on the shortlist to present a new
TV quiz programme.
Classic
Media Group are producing a new television series called Face to Face, presented by Wakeman.
Each 52-minute episode consists of a one-on-one interview with a
notable musician. The first three episodes are available to buy on DVD
prior to broadcast and are with Chris Barber (ex-Lonnie Donegan),
Rod Argent & Colin Blunstone (The Zombies), and
Scott Gorham (ex-Thin Lizzy, ex-Asia) respectively.
Wakeman hosts his own live
radio
show, Rick's Place, on DAB digital radio station Planet
Rock (UK and webcast) every Saturday from 10am to 1pm (repeated
Fridays). The show has a guest
each week, sometimes including a live performance. Guests have included
Chris Squire (archived at Squire's
site), Geoff
Downes and John Wetton. Wakeman does other work for the channel
too.
The show is contracted through to
the end of 2009, and Wakeman has indicated he would like to go on
beyond then.
Wakeman has also done
some work for Classic FM and he
has been asked to present a series of further shows over the next
couple of years, maybe as many as 40.
Chameleon TV are making a documentary about Wakeman and are seeking photographs or amateur footage—see RWCC for details. A Wakeman solo tour programme in 2002 mentioned his desire to do more TV work, commenting that, "He still has huge aspirations to host his own chat/music show and negotiations are much further down the line as regards this than people might imagine..." Wakeman has also done filming for a documentary on old instruments. Wakeman was due to present a documentary about the Crompton cinema organ in Plymouth for Channel 4 (UK TV); broadcast details are unknown.
Wakeman is among the backers for the Isle of Man International Broadcasting plc (IMIB) company, which has been licenced to start a new UK national radio station, initially on long wave. The station has yet to start broadcasting. Wakeman has planned to be a DJ for the station, which is aimed at the 25-55 year old age group and will target female listeners.
Other news
Now out in hardback the UK
and now or soon in Canada and Australia is "Grumpy Old
Rockstar" (subtitled "And Other
Wondrous Stories"; ISBN: 1848090048, Preface
Publishing (Random House Group)),
a new book by Wakeman in
collaboration with Martin Roach, a collection of stories from
his life. A
second volume is planned for
2009. There is also an audio
book version read by Wakeman. Wakeman promoted the
book at the Edinburgh
International Book
Festival on 22 Aug and has various signing events to
promote it in Sep-Nov, including a book launch with ann evening of
anecdotes on
14 Oct in London.
In the Jul 2005 interview, he said that he is going to write a
book
about Yes ("Grumpy Old Rockstar"
only has a small amount of Yes content)—see
details here. He has also
done a foreword for Roger Dean's new book
"Dragon's Dream".
He also said
to
Classic
Rock that, "thanks to the television exposure, I do a considerable
amount of after-dinner speeches". In the RWCC Winter Newsletter 2007,
Wakeman said, "I'm very much looking forward to producing
various music books with duets for piano as well as music for
other instruments accompanied by piano. This is very much a long-term
project and hopefully by Easter , the first books will be available."
Wakeman has two record companies, Ambient Records and Hope Records. Fintage Music have announced a publishing and neighbouring rights administration deal with Wakeman covering the administration of his rights outside of North America, among other services.
Wakeman is managed by Roger
DeCourcey. Wakeman sits on the executive board of the Bob
Moog Memorial Fund, set up in Bob
Moog's memory. He is also an honorary director at Melling
Sports Cars.
Any news, additions or corrections, please e-mail Henry
Potts. Thanks.