Rick Wakeman once signed a contract guaranteeing he’d wear “at least one cape onstage”

Rick Wakeman was onstage from the age of five and looks back with us here on a life of live performance – jazz and blues bands, the Strawbs, Yes – and ahead to this autumn’s tour performing King Arthur and the Six Wives of Henry the Eighth. “I wake up every morning, throw off the duvet and – if nothing else has fallen off – have a great day!” There’s more …   ... how it feels when the rock press call you ‘Tomorrow’s Superstar!’ at the age of 24.   … the contract he once had to sign that said “Mister Wakeman will wear at least one of his capes during the performance”.   … seeing the Bonzos in 1965, “Viv Stanshall so paralytic he sang the entire set lying down”.   … being on a packed tube to Gants Hill and suddenly realising he was on the cover of the Melody Maker he was reading.   … Mrs Symes, his piano teacher, who launched his career (aged five).   … his teenage band Atlantic Blues “who ended Wipe Out eight times faster than it started”.   … the day his Strawbs’ Hammond organ solos were applauded by the Telegraph and Times.   … early piano sessions for Cat Stevens, Ralph McTell and Al Stewart.   … aspects of touring that prove “financially non-viable”.   … and how Wolf Hall rebooted the legend of Henry the Eighth.   Plus Atomic Rooster, Charlie Chaplin, Arthur Brown, green PVC trousers and a cape collection that includes “four originals”.   Buy tickets here: https://www.rwcc.com/live.php#ere2025 Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.