Vienna, VA – If you know classic rock musicians, you know that Rick Wakeman wrote the book on rock keyboards. Looking at videos of past performance, it was not uncommon for him to be on stage with 4, 6, and I think I even counted 8 or more different keyboards at one time. Getting the chance to see him perform was a dream come true. His music had come into my life way back when when I bought a copy of The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table to play on my Kraco tape deck in my first car, a 1974 Pinto station wagon and has never left me. When I found out he was going to be just hours away, I had to go.
Rick kicked off his final U.S. solo tour at the Barns of Wolf Trap on March 27, 2025. The sold out crowd at the Barns was in for a treat. I had the chance to talk to a few of the audience members before he took the stage and for most, this may have been his last appearance, but unlike me, this was not their first show. I heard stories of his performances dating back to the 70s and the one thing they all had in common was every time the show ended, all wanted more.
What I really loved about this performance was how Rick was able to weave his stories in throughout the night, whether it be about his compositions, working with artists such as David Bowie, or proving labels wrong by popularizing instrumentals and nearly single track albums.
Rick took the stage and performed “Jane Seymour“, one of Henry’s wives. After a thank you, we were treated to a few more from the The Six Wives of Henry VIII album, sans the orchestral backing, including “Catherine of Aragon“.
Up next was some David Bowie, namely “A Space Oddity“. His story behind this was so much fun, about how the unexpected can lead to a great outcome. Before I finish this piece, I have to go listen to my early pressing of this album to see if I can really hear the phone in the background.
Up next on the agenda was a medley of the music that introduced me to Rick back in the early 80s. While Rick is not a vocalist, some of his music does have words. There were parts the Myths and Legends of King Arthur Medley that did turn into the nearest thing to a sing-along for the night. Throughout the evening, as he spoke, it was eye opening. His music, primarily instrumentals, defied the odds of an industry that focuses on 3-6 minute, lyric centered music. Looking back that was truly amazing. As it turns out, the hardest part was not the music, it was convincing the record folks that it would sell. The stories he told this night were priceless.
Outside of his Solo work, Wakeman was also the keyboardist for Yes for several years. A Wakeman show would not be complete without a compilation of Yes tunes. Playing what he called a “Yes Sonata“, he delivered!! He spoke fondly of this piece because it was never really done the same way twice. A solo cannot be played the same night after night as it is not longer an artistic endeavor by the musician. The same solo every performance is part of the arrangement. A true solo is a look into how the artist feels that night.
The final piece of the set was a Wakeman cover of the Beatles’ “Help!” and “Eleanor Rigby“. The interesting part of these tribute covers is that they were arranged in the styles of different composers, with “Help!” in the style of Saint Saens and “Eleanor Rigby” in the style of Prokofiev.
With the last note, Wakeman waved goodnight to a standing ovation. Thus far it was a performance for the ages. Retaking the stage to quench the audience desire for one more song, Wakeman told us about the Journey to the Center of the Earth album, which was not really written for straight piano. As he tells it, he worried piano might not work. It worked!!
We bid Rick a fond good night with another standing O. A fitting ending to a wonderful show!!
Rick Wakeman Gallery
Rick Wakeman Setlist
Jane Seymour, Catherine of Aragon, Wives of King Henry VIII
Space Oddity
Arthur / Guinevere / The Last Battle / Merlin the Magician with Knights of the Round Table.
A Yes Sonata
Help! / Eleanor Rigby
Encore:
Excerpts from Journey to the Centre of the Earth
