Rick Wakeman: A rock icon struts his stuff

Rick Wakeman: A rock icon struts his stuff

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Rick who? While today's MTV Generation may frown at hearing the
name of Rick Wakeman, baby boomers remember him well as that former
Yes keyboard player with the straight blonde hair way down to his
waist, who composed music that was inspired by classic
literature.

"He is, like, a genius. He played keyboard and explored the
keys as if his fingers had no bones," 40-something Arief recalled
of his idol.

But it was not until over 25 years later, or Feb. 21, 2002 to
be precise, that Arief was finally able to see the progressive
rock icon perform. It was a performance that brought him back to
the good ol' days when Yes still reigned supreme.

Before an audience of about 1,700 at the Jakarta Convention
Center, most of them around Arief's age or older, Wakeman strode
onto the stage, surrounded by four sets of keyboards and a
synthesizer.

His tall figure was wrapped in a silvery white robe as a green
laser light shot through the audience.

A second later, 1974's Journey To The Center of The Earth, an
adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, was played to the cheers of
the dedicated audience.

The 53-year-old musician joined Yes in 1971 and played a key
role in the final shaping of the group's fourth album, Fragile,
which was released the same year.

He left the band in 1974, but returned two years later before
leaving for good in 1980.

As a solo artist, he is known for historical and classic
literature themes in his projects.

Wakeman's first solo album in 1973, an instrumental work
called The Six Wives of Henry VIII, consisted of his musical
interpretations of the lives and personalities of the 16th
century English king's consorts.

After Journey came 1975's The Myths and Legends of King Arthur
and the Knights of the Round Table.

"I'm not very good at writing love stories. I like history,
and I want to write things that no one writes about," Wakeman
told a media conference here two days before the concert.

"As for Jules Verne, he's my favorite science fiction writer.
Almost everything he wrote did come true," he said, adding that
he still wished to adapt more of Verne's books but it would take
a lot of time and money.

His music also spans many genres, from rock to gospel.

"If you do what you like to do all the time, you don't get a
lot. We need to try out new things. It's important to not just be
walking on one road so that we can get more experience," he
asserted.

Wakeman recalled the early period after he joined Yes as the
most rewarding time.

"To some extent, you weren't influenced much by the record
company," he said of a time before giant record labels ruled the
world of music.

At the concert, Wakeman presented 11 songs from his albums.
His fingers ran from one key to another as he played Never Is A
Long Long Time to King Arthur Suite to Catherine of Aragon to
1984. The latter is the fruit of his collaboration with lyricist
Tim Rice on a musical adaptation of George Orwell's novel.

Wakeman was accompanied by The English Rock Ensemble, which
comprised Damian Wilson (vocal), Tony Fernandez (drums), Ant
Glynne (guitar), Lee Pomeroy (bass), and Wakeman's eldest son,
Adam Wakeman, who played keyboards and acted as backing vocal.

On stage, Wakeman senior teased his son while introducing him
to the audience.

"Look at this poor boy. He can't afford to buy shoes," Wakeman
pointed to his barefoot son, with whom Wakeman released an album
titled Wakeman With Wakeman.

In Merlin the Magician, the father and son dueled with each
other on their hand keyboards. But it was obvious that the
father's skill is way above the son's, who, by the way, looks
like a member of a boyband.

As Adam "gave up" and went back to his keyboard, Wakeman went
into the audience, who applauded in response.

Wakeman came back on stage, asking a woman member of the
audience to follow him, and she then held the keyboard for him.

Afterwards, it was Adam's turn to walk off the stage with his
yellow hand keyboard, slipping through the audience in the front
row, before standing on one chair and showing off his skills.

Performing with dad seems like a better career choice than his
previous gig, working with the English girl band Atomic Kitten,
which delayed his arrival in Indonesia and led him to miss the
media conference.

Carried away by the antics of father and son, vocalist Damian
Wilson ran down off the stage, up to the balcony, said hi to the
audience, before returning to the stage again.

To honor his former band, Wakeman then performed a number from
Yes called Starship Trooper.

The show ended with The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby played as an
encore.

"He's just as great as in the old days. Too bad the band
couldn't keep up with him. Except the drummer, he's on the ball.
His son is way behind the father," said Arief as he discussed the
concert with some other devoted Wakeman fans.