Rick Wakeman?

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dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,169 posts

185 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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Random question: In comparison with, say, Mick Jagger or David Bowie or John Lennon, how well known (by the general public) was Rick Wakeman in the 1960’s/1970’s/1980’s ?

SeeFive

8,280 posts

234 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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In the prog rock era of the 60's and 70's he was quite a big name in that genre, although prog rock being what it was meant that it was never on the commercial scale of a Lennon / Jagger at the same time. Bowie didn't really kick in for popularity till the Glam Rock days of the early 70's, very much underground in the 60's.

The Yes days and the drinking / chemicals led to some pretty bad times, with Rick leaving Yes, and then re-joining later, followed immediately by the announcement that the rest of Yes had left etc. NME used a lot of words on that kind if stuff, all of which increased his public profile.

He was a bloody good BBQ chef though, even when really pissed.

Edited by SeeFive on Wednesday 1st September 14:52

prand

5,916 posts

197 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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Funny question this, what's the reason?

He was pretty famous for his capes and his big performances in his day. I always think of him as a bit of a humorous relic of the age. He was certainly not on a par with the more serious Pink Floyd.

And I think now that because he pops up regfularly on some pretty crappy TV these days, he was probably more famous than financially successful.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,169 posts

185 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
quotequote all
prand said:
Funny question this, what's the reason?
Must just be from the wrong era for me then I guess.

The reason asked is I hear him a lot on Planet Rock as a presenter, where he is 'presented' as a big rock star, yet he seems to require a group of rather sycophantic people around him as co presenters. He makes frequent reference to the ‘big names’ of the day, but some of his anecdotes seem a bit strained. TBH the first time I ever heard of him was the ‘Grumpy old Men’ things on telly ages ago, and even then, initially I had no idea who he was. Mildly annoying, but I still like the music he plays.

Other presenters on the same station such as Joe Bonamassa, Alice Cooper and Joe Elliot I *have* heard of, and they don’t seem to require nearly as much ‘maintenance’ on-air as Wakeman does.

kiteless

11,719 posts

205 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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As a band member of Yes, you'd have to know your onions when it comes to playing a musical instrument.

Think of Yes as an old school Dream Theatre and you're not far off the mark, and back in the 70's a band could be more successful as an "album only" outfit than one that released singles (Led Zep for example). So he was a member of a largely famous 1970's prog-rock "supergroup" and was probably the most flamboyant member. Not, I'll admit, to difficult when your guitarist is Steve Howe and your singer is Jon Anderson......

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,169 posts

185 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
quotequote all
kiteless said:
As a band member of Yes, you'd have to know your onions when it comes to playing a musical instrument.

Think of Yes as an old school Dream Theatre and you're not far off the mark, and back in the 70's a band could be more successful as an "album only" outfit than one that released singles (Led Zep for example). So he was a member of a largely famous 1970's prog-rock "supergroup" and was probably the most flamboyant member. Not, I'll admit, to difficult when your guitarist is Steve Howe and your singer is Jon Anderson......
Fair play to him then, but I wish he'd lose the entourage.

grumbledoak

31,549 posts

234 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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You really don't get much bigger than 'Yes'. 'The Travelling Wilburys' are as close as I can think of for individual fame.

If you get a chance to see him, do go. He is as funny in his tales as he is talented in his music.

Edited by grumbledoak on Wednesday 1st September 22:47

Kinky

39,576 posts

270 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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And a top lad too thumbup

Pothole

34,367 posts

283 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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dr_gn said:
kiteless said:
As a band member of Yes, you'd have to know your onions when it comes to playing a musical instrument.

Think of Yes as an old school Dream Theatre and you're not far off the mark, and back in the 70's a band could be more successful as an "album only" outfit than one that released singles (Led Zep for example). So he was a member of a largely famous 1970's prog-rock "supergroup" and was probably the most flamboyant member. Not, I'll admit, to difficult when your guitarist is Steve Howe and your singer is Jon Anderson......
Fair play to him then, but I wish he'd lose the entourage.
it's part of his schtick. I suspect he's not very good at the mechanics of presenting.


dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,169 posts

185 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
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Pothole said:
dr_gn said:
kiteless said:
As a band member of Yes, you'd have to know your onions when it comes to playing a musical instrument.

Think of Yes as an old school Dream Theatre and you're not far off the mark, and back in the 70's a band could be more successful as an "album only" outfit than one that released singles (Led Zep for example). So he was a member of a largely famous 1970's prog-rock "supergroup" and was probably the most flamboyant member. Not, I'll admit, to difficult when your guitarist is Steve Howe and your singer is Jon Anderson......
Fair play to him then, but I wish he'd lose the entourage.
it's part of his schtick. I suspect he's not very good at the mechanics of presenting.
Probably quite right, they recently added 'Kid' Jensen to his posse.

andy400

10,385 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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His Autobiography is worth a read, I really enjoyed it.

ian2144

1,665 posts

223 months

Thursday 23rd September 2010
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I'm off to see Rick at the Eden Court In Inverness next Monday. Looking forward to it, last time I saw him play, was at St Marys in Haddington back in 2001.