The Rick Wakeman Appreciation Thread

[boo boo]

We can't have a prog thread without paying tribute to the most pompous progger of them all, can we?

Of course not.




The keyboard wizard and prog icon, Rick Wakeman (the spider as he was sometimes called because of how his lanky arms would stretch out over all the keyboard equipment he would surround himself with) is best known for his work with Yes, particularly on landmark albums like Fragile, Close to the Edge, Yessongs, Tales From Topographic Oceans and Going for the One. Lending his virtuoso skills on piano, organ, moog, mellotron, harpischord and other keyboard instruments.

But he was also a highly regarded session man who lended his piano work to David Bowie's Hunky Dory and Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, and also some keyboard work on Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

Add to that his awesomely ridiculous solo career, the most hilarious backstage Spinal Tap moment stories you'll ever hear and some pretty funny rants on BBC 2's Grumpy Old Men. Oh, and those bitchin' capes.

But on a serious note, he's one of my favorite musicians. I even admit to liking some of his solo stuff.