Rick Wakeman is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is a classically trained pianist & has been highly acclaimed for his virtuosity. In his early years he was a pioneer in the use of electronic keyboards & his name has become a byword for a keyboard player surrounded by a vast array of equipment. He was born in Perivale, Middlesex, England. Wakeman came to fame in 1970 playing with
The Strawbs & joined
Yes for the first time in 1971. Wakeman has joined & left Yes at least four times in his turbulent long-term relationship with the group. In 2002, he joined the band for a fifth time. Wakeman has enjoyed a long, extremely prolific, but only occasionally successful solo career. He has also performed as a guest or session musician for artists as disparate as
John Williams,
Brotherhood Of Man,
Elton John,
Lou Reed,
David Bowie &
Black Sabbath. Wakeman became highly skilled at playing the temperamental & notoriously intractible Mellotron - an electronic musical instrument that worked using continuous prerecorded tape loops.
Firstly, the music on this one is great, I really like it. BUT I was a little dissapointed with the concept MOVIE part of it. Partly because when buying it I was not all that sure as to whether this was a live show or the concept movie it turned out to be. So, I dont know what I thought a concept movie was, but I didnt think it would be like this.
If you like the sound of listening to the Out There album with picures of spaceships & alien landscapes going on in the background then Im sure this is for you. Only, re-reading that it doesnt sound to bad. Ill tell you the sort of thing that happens. One songs visuals consist of a lot of odd machines just, sort of doing their thing on a plain boring landscape. Im sorry but for me it just isnt worth the money. Just buy the CD is my advise.
The only redeeming factor is the extra, a documentary of behind the scenes at the tour, & some interviews with Mr Wakeman. Even then, Im sure they could have fitted some more extras on, perhaps one of the songs live, oh well. So to sum it all up- if you like the sound of the above get it, if not, steer clear. There are better Wakeman DVDs out their. Just do Quicksearch DVD - Rick Wakeman & youll have a good few to choose from.
