------------------------------------------------------- MARCH 1, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Webcaster U http://www.webcasteru.com/Rick_Wakeman_June_2004.php 35 Years and it's still fun for Rick Wakeman! When you think of the band YES the first name that pops into your head has to be Rick Wakeman. His powerful arrangements on keyboard have become the mainstay of one of rock's most prolific bands. A musician, an author and an avid golf fan, it's amazing that he even finds the time to play music anymore, yet Rick and his YES bandmates (John Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White) are preparing to embark on their 35th anniversary tour. Rick took time out of his busy preparations for the upcoming tour to talk with Webcaster U. To Rick and the band, thanks for the past 35 years. We can only hope for 35 more! - The Rockgod WU: Yes is kicking off their 35th anniversary tour this April. Are you surprised that the band has lasted this long and that the fans still want to see you live? Rick: THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THE YOUNGER GENERATION IN PARTICULAR DO NOT SUFFER FROM THAT DREADFUL DISEASE THAT INFLICTS 99% OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA IN GENERAL AND THAT IS AGEISM . THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE HOW OLD THE ARTISTS ARE AS LONG AS THEY LIKE THE MUSIC . AS MANY HAVE SAID TO ME "IT MIGHT BE OLD MUSIC TO YOU , BUT IT'S NEW TO US" ! I AM NOT REALLY SURPRISED THAT THE BAND HAS LASTED THIS LONG AS IT HAS ALWAYS KEPT GOING WITH ONE LINE UP OR ANOTHER REGARDLESS OF THE FASHION IN MUSIC AND IN GENERAL HAS STUCK BY IT'S MUSICAL BELIEFS . ALSO THE BAND IS PLAYING VERY WELL AND IN MANY AREAS BETTER THAN EVER . IT'S A HAPPY BAND ON STAGE AS WELL WHICH MAKES AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE TO THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY ARTISTS . THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT YES ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE MORE THAN IT'S FAIR SHARE OF CLASSIC SONGS IN IT'S REPERTOIRE . IT'S STILL WONDERFULLY ENJOYABLE TO PLAY THE OLD STUFF AS IT ALWAYS CHANGES A LITTLE BIT ON EVERY TOUR WHICH KEEPS IT FRESH FOR US . WU: Can we expect an elaborate stage show on the new tour like Yes is famous for in the past? Rick: CERTAINLY, THIS WILL BE A STEP BACK IN GOING FORWARD AS WE HAVE A GREAT ROGER DEAN STAGE SET BEING BUILT AND THE PLAN FOR PLAYING THE MUSIC ON STAGE THIS TIME AROUND COULD BE QUITE RADICAL . THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF REHEARSAL THAT'S FOR SURE !!!! WU: Is it important to you if the band is inducted one day into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? If so why? If not why? Rick: I PERSONALLY AM DISGUSTED WITH THE HALL OF FAME AND ALL THOSE WHO RUN IT . WAY BEFORE I CAME BACK INTO THE BAND I WATCHED IN AMAZEMENT AS BANDS WHO HAD NOT CONTRIBUTED ONE TENTH OF WHAT YES HAD CONTRIBUTED TO MUSIC , BEING INDUCTED IN ONE AFTER THE OTHER . I ACTUALLY SAID IN THE PRESS THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A DISGRACE . ....AGAIN I HASTEN TO ADD THIS WAS WAY BEFORE I REJOINED . PERSONALLY I THINK THE BAND SHOULD BE INDUCTED BUT I WOULD PROBABLY REFUSE TO TURN UP MYSELF AS I THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME NOT TO SAY WHAT I THINK !!!!! WU: With so many great albums and so many great songs, what was the process of choosing the set list for the new tour? Rick: THIS TIME AROUND , AS USUAL , WE ALL HAVE PUT IN IDEAS AND THEY WILL BE SIFTED THROUGH DURING REHEARSALS AND A GOOD SHAPE WILL START TO APPEAR AND CERTAINLY THIS TIME AROUND THERE WILL BE MORE THAN A FEW SURPRISES IN THE STRUCTURE . WU: Can you give us a preview of what songs you will be performing? Rick: TO BE HONEST I CAN'T ...AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE I AM BEING DIFFICULT , IT'S JUST THAT NOTHING IS CAST IN STONE AT THE MOMENT . WU: Is there any chance that the 35th Anniversary tour will turn into a live CD or DVD? Rick: I SINCERELY HOPE THAT IT IS CAPTURED ON FILM FOR DVDS . IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY IF IT WASN'T . I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT A SEPARATE CD AS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT GIVEN AWAY FREE WITH THE DVD . WU: Can we expect any new solo work from you in the near future? If so what can we expect? Rick: I CURRENTLY HAVE THE CD AND DVD OF "OUT THERE" RELEASED AND I AM ALSO LOOKING AT A FEW MORE BIG EVENTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH . AT THE MOMENT THOUGH I AM JUST CONCENTRATING ON THE YES 35TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR WHICH WILL PRETTY MUCH TAKE UP MY INVOLVEMENT FOR MOST OF THE YEAR . WU: We all know that music is a business, how do you keep it fun, after 35 yrs it still has to be fun doesn't it? Rick: IT IS MY LIFE . THE TRUE LOVE OF MY LIFE . I CANNOT IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO PLAY MUSIC AND TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN THE WAY THAT I AM . THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I WILL SADLY NEVER FINISH ALL THAT I WANT TO DO BEFORE MY LIFE IS OVER .....I THINK I WILL STILL BE COMPOSING WHILST THEY ARE NAILING DOWN MY COFFIN !!!! WU: Internet radio is becoming more and more popular these days, have you embraced the internet in any way? Rick: VERY MUCH . I DON'T LISTEN TO ANY RADIO IN ENGLAND THAT IS OF A NATIONAL NATURE EXCEPT FOR SPEECH RADIO . RADIO HAS HIT ROCK BOTTOM IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WHICH IS TRAGIC AS IT IS STILL THE FINEST PLACE TO DISPLAY MUSIC TO THE WORLD . THERE ARE SOME GREAT PRESENTERS STILL BUT SADLY THEY ARE NOT GIVEN FREEDOM ANYMORE . I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW MUCH GREAT MUSIC IS NEVER HEARD BECAUSE OF PROGRAMME CONTROLLERS . WU: Any plans on retirement from the road or do you just enjoy it too much to quit? Rick: I DO PLAN TO CHANGE MY LIFE CONSIDERABLY OVER THE COMING YEARS . I INTEND TO DO JUST ONE MORE SOLO TOUR WITH MY BAND IN ANY COUNTRY WHERE IT IS VIABLE TO PLAY AND ALSO ONE MORE SOLO ONE MAN SHOW TOUR . I ALSO PLAN TO DO ONE LAST CHURCH TOUR . THEN THAT WILL BE IT AS FAR AS SOLO TOURING IS CONCERNED . I EXPECT TO HAVE GOT THROUGH THESE TOURS BY THE END OF 2006 . I'M CALLING THE TOURING "THE FINAL FAREWELL" . I STILL INTEND TO TRY AND INVOLVE MYSELF WITH ONE OFF EVENTS SUCH AS FESTIVALS OR LARGE EXTRAVAGANZAS BUT THAT'S ALL . I WILL THEN CONCENTRATE MORE ON COMPOSITION AND WRITING WORKS THAT I HAVE WANTED TO FOR MANY YEARS TO DO . OBVIOUSLY I WILL CONTINUE WITH YES FOR AS LONG AS YES CONTINUES . WU: When you look back at your career, when everything is said and done, what would you like most to be remembered for? Rick: IF I COULD COME BACK IN 50 YEARS TIME IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT PERHAPS ONE PIECE HAD SURVIVED AND WAS STILL PLAYED OCCASIONALLY , BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IF I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING A LITTLE HAPPINESS TO JUST ONE PERSON THEN IT HAS ALL BEEN WORTH IT . WU: We at WebcasterU.com make it a point to ask what your favorite charity is so that we can give exposure to that charity in your behalf on our site. What's your charity of choice, why, and where can people donate? Rick: THERE ARE TWO CHARITIES IN PARTICULAR THAT ARE DEAR TO MY HEART , BUT I'M GOING TO MENTION THREE ...WHICH GIVES PEOPLE A WONDERFUL CHOICE !!! FIRSTLY THERE IS "SPARKS" WHICH RAISES MONEY FOR RESEARCH INTO FINDING CURES FOR DISEASES AND ILLNESSES IN BABIES AND BUYING EQUIPMENT FOR HOSPITALS ACCORDINGLY . YOU CAN CHECK OUT THERE WEBSITE BY JUST TYPING IN SPARKS. I HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SPARKS . THIS YEAR IT IS AT BURGH HILL IN SURREY ON AUGUST 14TH.....COME ALONG AND SUPPORT IT IF YOU LIKE. SECONDLY THERE IS "BREAKTHROUGH" , WHICH IS A CHARITY SPECIALISING IN BREAST CANCER . I LOST MY MOTHER TO BREAST CANCER AND SO THIS CHARITY IS PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO MY HEART. FINALLY THERE IS A WONDERFUL TEENAGE HOSPICE IN OXFORD CALLED DOUGLAS HOUSE. IT IS RUN BY A WONDERFUL NUN CALLED SISTER FRANCES . I CAN'T PRAISE THE WORK THEY DO MORE HIGHLY. HOPE THIS ALL MAKES SENSE....KIND REGARDS....RICK Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com