Business news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Rick Wakeman shares trailer for his new prog album, Return To The Red Planet
Rick Wakeman has announced a new progressive rock album, Return To The Red Planet, due for release through Madfish Records on 16 October. The record serves as a sequel to his 2020 album The Red Planet, continuing his musical exploration of Mars, and sees him reunited with his English Rock Ensemble band.
Wakeman said that after reviewing new data and photographs about Mars, he realised there was "an entirely new album waiting to be written," feeling there was more to express musically and spiritually about the planet. The album reunites him with band members Lee Pomeroy, Dave Colquhoun, Adam Falkner and Mollie Marriott, and a trailer has been released alongside the announcement. Wakeman has also spoken about drawing on his experience playing on David Bowie's Life On Mars? during his pre-Yes days as inspiration for the new material.
In short
- Rick Wakeman announces new album Return To The Red Planet, out 16 October
- Sequel to his 2020 album The Red Planet
- Reunites him with his English Rock Ensemble band
Explained simply
Rick Wakeman is a British keyboard player and composer best known as a long-time member of the progressive rock band Yes. Progressive rock is a style of music featuring complex, lengthy compositions often influenced by classical music, with albums frequently structured around a central concept or theme explored across multiple tracks.
Over his solo career, Wakeman has established a reputation for creating concept albums built around particular subjects or ideas. In 2020, he released The Red Planet, an album inspired by Mars. The new album continues this Mars-themed project, developed after Wakeman reviewed new photographs and scientific data about the planet that inspired him to compose additional music on the subject.
Business Entertainment Markets Music