03.18, 7:30pm | The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis, MO | All ages | from $50.50
For Rick Wakeman, one of the most prolific figures in contemporary music, life on the road has become a family affair.
A graduate of the Royal College of Music, the progressive rock icon is known for his elaborate arrangements and classical influences, both as a soloist and a member of Yes and (briefly) The Strawbs.
His latest tour finds him teaming up with his son Oliver, for a series of intimate concerts where both musicians interact with the audience and perform music from their catalogs.
A master of keyboards, the Mellotron, and piano, Wakeman has appeared on over 100 records, including ones by David Bowie, Lou Reed, Elton John, Marc Bolan, and Cat Stevens. A jocular storyteller onstage, he is known for his textured soundscapes, sweeping orchestrations, and robust harmonies.
This seminal figure in prog rock has also been a key influence for generations of film composers and contemporary musicians alike. While his work with Yes remains prolific, the classically trained Wakeman’s diverse catalog includes acclaimed solo work, including the instrumental classic The Six Wives of Henry VIII, a choral and orchestral albumJourney to the Centre of the Earth, andThe Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
A three-time winner of the Classic Rock Society’s Best Keyboard Player, Oliver Wakeman’s solo career includes several critically acclaimed solo albums. He has worked with Clive Nolan (Pendragon/Arena), Steve Howe (Yes/Asia), and Gordon Giltrap.
He has performed on several poetry albums with renowned Shakespearean actor Derek Jacobi, as well as numerous music projects with fantasy artist Rodney Matthews.
The duo’s upcoming concert at The Sheldon will feature the pair performing Rick’s classic Yes and solo material, along with Oliver’s work and reinterpretations from both musicians. The show also features humor, conversation, and both artists having a good time as they perform together.
Rick Wakeman spoke with The Arts STL ahead of their upcoming appearance at the Sheldon.
The Arts STL: How did this tour come about?
Rick Wakeman: Originally, I was due to come out last September to do a tour called Strictly Wakeman with a wonderful singer called Hayley Sanderson. But then, in August, before I came out, I was taken ill. To cut a long story short, they thought I had a stroke.
I couldn’t walk; I couldn’t do anything. I had this thing called hydrocephalus. It basically incapacitates you in every single way.
That’s awful.
The folks at the hospital especially said I would need spinal and brain surgery. That’s all you can do. I asked about going on tour, and they thought I was joking. They told me I could not go anywhere near an airplane.
Anyway, they said after the operation that I would not be able to do anything for at least four months. So, we postponed the tour.
Then we were told by the specialist that I could tour in March. But our singer was unavailable for the rest of this year and most of next year. I really wanted to come out and play, so I set this tour up.
How did your son become involved?
I was thinking of what I could do that was different, something I haven’t done before. Then it occurred to me that I had never been on tour with my eldest son, Oliver—even though we had done shows together, we had never done a tour. I thought that could be fun.
He’s got lots of tales to tell. He spent two years with Yes, so he knows what it’s all about. So, I called him up and asked if he would like to come out on the road for a month and do some shows?
We agreed that he could do some stuff he did with Yes, and I’ll do some of mine. And in between the pieces, we’ll insult each other. He thought that sounded great.
That’s how it’s all come about.
As a parent, you must be proud that you have sons that are also musicians.
Yeah, my two oldest boys. They’ve both done well as musicians. Adam just got a Grammy, which is great. He’s played with Ozzy and Black Sabbath.
Oliver played with Yes for nearly two years and did a fantastic job. He’s done his solo albums and The 3 Ages of Magick, an album with Steve Howe.
I hope they both do well because they’re going to be the ones who choose which care home I go into.
As a father and musician, did you give Oliver any advice about getting into the business?
No, I kept out of it as my father did. He wanted me to enjoy it. He wanted me to do it because I wanted to, not for any other reason.
In fact, they all stopped at one stage for a little while. They all said, well, we’ve got so much happening, you know, we’re not going to play anymore.
Ironically, less than two years later, they both said they wanted to go back to music again. I think the little gap helped them to realize how much music meant to them in their lives.
Growing up in a household of music must have been incredible.
My father was a great piano player. He played all the time. He was tremendous.
I was lucky in a way. I was born in 1949, and back then, there was very little radio. There was no television. We didn’t have a television until I was about eight or nine.
So, we made our own entertainment. My mom and I also played the piano. It was just wonderful. There was always music, made by us, not by anybody else.
With this tour, can you comment on the music you’re going to play?
There’ll be stuff that Oliver will do on his own from his solo albums. I’ll do some stuff from my solo stuff on my own, and we’ll do quite a lot together.
We’ve put together an interesting Yes suite. It is an instrumental Yes suite of music that I was involved with, along with music that he was involved with. I have put together a suite of the Six Wives, which is completely different from any other versions I’ve done before.
Overall, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. The music will be great, and it’ll be interesting to see who insults the other one most.
Is it freeing to be able to play anything you want rather than just music from Yes or your solo career?
Yeah, nobody can tell us what we should play. Obviously, my manager tries every now and then, but I just put the phone down. Generally, we do what we want. But I’d also like to think we do what people who come to the concerts would want to hear. That’s what we aim for.
Are you thrilled to be playing intimate venues like The Sheldon on this tour?
Yeah, but I’ll play anywhere. I don’t care where I’m playing. That doesn’t [matter to me] one iota.
If I’m playing in a stadium, or if I’m playing in an arena, or if I’m playing in a theatre, it’s all great. I’m up there doing what I love, which is playing. I really don’t mind where the place is.
I’ve played most of the venues on this tour before, and they’re all lovely people.
What is the best part about playing music with Oliver?
I’ve been able to spend time with him. Because of my life as a musician, travelling, I’ve never really spent the time that I’d like with my kids. I’ve been away so much.
I am at the tender age of 77, and Oliver’s 54. It’s great to be able to spend time with him.
Obviously, we’ve always spoken a lot on the phone, and we’ve gotten together. But, during his childhood years, I was never at home.
That is a double-edged sword because you’re hoping to earn money to give him a good upbringing. But the downside is you don’t see that upbringing. That’s the tough part. Even in these later years, I’m looking forward to spending time with him and finding out even more about him that I didn’t know.
What is the most challenging part about playing music with your son?
Asking him to work out what on earth I’m doing. That’s going to be the hardest.
When you look back at your musical legacy, what are you most proud of?
Oh, crikey. I’d probably give you a different answer every day.
I suppose the first album you do, you’re always extremely proud of. Mine was with The Strawbs. That was just a collection of antiques and curios. With myself, it was The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
With Yes, it was Fragile. Anything that comes first is always of importance, really. I know it’s a bit of a political answer, but I would give you a different choice almost every day.
Throughout your career, you’ve always been working. Why is that?
I’ve always been busy. I like being busy.
I like waking up every day knowing that I’ve got a lot to do. I’m not somebody to sit around and do nothing.
What do you want audiences to take away from this tour?
A load of merchandise! Seriously, I want people to go away, having had an evening of emotions, of laughing and happiness.
I want them to enjoy the music go away with a smile on their face, and go, ” Hey, that was really enjoyable.” | Rob Levy
Rick Wakeman and Son are performing at the Sheldon on Wednesday, March 18th, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit: https://www.thesheldon.org/events/
