Rick Wakeman rules out attending Yes’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction
Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman has categorically ruled out being part of Yes’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Alongside Pearl Jam, Journey, Electric Light Orchestra, Joan Baez and rapper Tupac Shakur, Yes will be inducted at the 32nd Hall of Fame Ceremony on Friday 7th April at the Barclays Center in New York.
In a post on his Grumpy Old Rick’s Ramblings blog over the festive period, Rick said that Yes’s induction has come too late following Chris Squire’s untimely death in 2015.
“Well I would have been (pleased) if it had happened years ago when it was really well deserved,” Rick said.
“I find it hard to come to terms with the fact that so many bands are inducted into the Hall of Fame too late in their careers after key members have passed away.
“Classic examples are The Who and John Entwhistle, Deep Purple and Jon Lord and now YES and there will be no Chris Squire.”
Reflecting on the possibility of inductees Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Alan White, Tony Kaye and Trevor Rabin joining forces for a reunion, Rick added: “I have no idea if there will be any sort of reunion.
“But whatever happens under no circumstances will I be any part of it, neither will I be attending.”
Rick releases his new studio album ‘Piano Portraits’ on 13th January, which, as the title suggests, sees him interpret a variety of rock classics and traditional songs in the piano format.
Recorded at The Old Granary in South Norfolk, the album boasts two David Bowie classics that Rick originally performed on – the seminal ‘Life on Mars’ and Bowie’s breakthrough smash ‘Space Oddity’.
Other piano renditions include Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway To Heaven’, The Beatles’ ‘Help’ and ‘Eleanor Rigby’, 10CC’s ‘I’m Not In Love’ and Yes’s Jon Anderson penned anthem ‘Wonderous Stories’.
Rick is hitting the road in March with Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin to perform “an evening of Yes music and more” under their ARW moniker.
Tickets to all shows are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now. See Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman at the following shows:
MARCH 2017
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena - Sun 12th
Birmingham Symphony Hall - Mon 13th
Brighton Dome - Wed 15th
Bournemouth International Centre - Thu 16th
London Hammersmith Eventim Apollo - Sat 18th
London Hammersmith Eventim Apollo - Sun 19th
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall - Tue 21st
Edinburgh Usher Hall - Wed 22nd
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Fri 24th
Manchester Apollo - Sat 25th