Progressive rock musician Rick Wakeman. Photo: Courtesy
Don’t expect Rick Wakeman to be joining his old band mates in
Yes any time soon. Following a triumphant reunion tour that traversed 2002 to 2005, the flashy keyboardist -- who accompanied the British progressive rockers on their first major foray to stardom on albums such as
Fragile and
Close to the Edge in the early 1970's -- is content to let those good memories remain as a testament to the band’s enduring music.
“During that long tour, I came to the conclusion that this was the finest that the band ever performed together,” said the 64-year-old Wakeman recently from his country home in Norfolk in eastern England. “It couldn't get better if you had tried.
Everyone was playing at his peak within the Yes environment,” he added, referring to bandmates Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White.
Yes, which was nominated for entry into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, went on to greater commercial success after Wakeman’s departure with the streamlined, more pop-oriented 1983 album 90125 and its massive hit single “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” However, the early 1970s lineup with Wakeman returned in its full glory for the aforementioned early 2000s reunion run.
“After that, Jon was quite ill for a while, and I realized that things could never be the same,” said Wakeman. “I didn’t want to be with the band as things went down the other side of the mountain. I want to have the great memories of the band playing the best it ever did.”
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