------------------------------------------------------- JUNE 4, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Toronto Sun http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer/? (abbreviated link text) Save the Gardens, you wankers, musician says Wakeman of Yes says site is shrine After Sinatra came Elvis, then Beatles Rick Wakeman of the classic rock band Yes has told CREEM Magazine in a newly published interview that Toronto politicians "should be shot" for the planned demolition of the Maple Leaf Gardens. "Somebody one day has to point a finger at the town politicians, whoever they are, and say: `You should be shot. Because if ever you had something that was gonna attract people from all over the world, that's it, sitting there. And you're gonna turn it into a grocery store.' It stuns me," the keyboardist told CREEM writer Jeffrey Morgan before a concert at Toronto's Air Canada Centre last month. Wakeman's band played the Gardens during its heyday in 1974. The Gardens has been mostly dark since the Toronto Maple Leafs played their first game at the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 20, 1999. The Loblaws chain has a contract with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the venue's owner, to turn it into a store. Wakeman said: "I think there should be a plaque put up that says: This famous building full of heritage and history was turned into a grocery store by the wankers who call themselves politicians for Toronto. "Because one day ­ probably long after I'm dead and buried ­ the city will come to regret it." Its history as the home of hockey's Maple Leafs aside, the Gardens was also the site of political conventions, religious rallies, boxing matches including Muhammad Ali/George Chuvalo, and countless historic concerts by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Who, Bob Dylan and others. "The people who run Toronto somehow can't see that in the music business and the entertainment business there are no more than four, possibly five, venues in the entire world that are synonymous with the birth of rock 'n' roll," Wakeman said. "Madison Square Garden is one. The Hollywood Bowl probably another. The Glasgow Apollo is another. And Maple Leaf Gardens is the other." Loblaws' plan to preserve the Gardens façade and convert the interior into a supermarket and LCBO store has the backing of the Toronto Preservation Board. The plan goes to community council on Tuesday and city council later this month for approval. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com