Rick Wakeman

[Rick and Roll]

I was browsing the concert listings the other day and noticed he was playing a show on the Eastern shore of Maryland (which, trust me, is not exactly a hotbed of music).

A friend then sent me a review of this, and I realized that he's been doing this one-man show in the UK for years, and that he's quite the cut-up.

Anybody seen or know about this? I doubt I can be there, but it was very interesting nonetheless.

I saw his one man show a few years ago and he was hilarious.

He played music as well and did a wonderful piano piece based on the styles of various classical composers like Debussy, Ravel and Chopin as well as bits from Arthur and Six Wives.

His comedy routines were excellent and he told a great story about Jon Anderson. Jon is very into painting and loved to go to the Isle of Man to paint. He asked the hotel owner if he could have a room with a view of the harbour and sat looking out of the window painting. When he went out the hotel owner sneaked a look at the canvas and saw a HUGE flower. When he asked Jon about it he answered that that was all he could paint but he liked a nice view while doing it!!!!

He did the second half of the gig dressed in a genuine KGB officers uniform which he's somehow got hold of in Moscow.

A very strange night but immensley enjoyable.