Off With Their Heads!

In the early 70s, not long after he’d joined Yes, Rick Wakeman turned to the history books for his solo debut, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII. Inspired by the spouses of one of England’s most famous monarchs, the six complex instrumentals had record label execs chewing down their nails and tearing their hair out. In the wake of its 50th anniversary, Wakeman recalls the making of the album that launched his solo career.

Dave Ling

“I know Henry was a very naughty boy, but some of the wives were too. It was wonderfully rock’n’roll.” In 1973, at the age of 24, Rick Wakeman was among the biggest stars in the world of rock music. As a member of Yes, whose fifth album, Close To The Edge, had become a creative and commercial triumph, the classically trained keyboard wizard had paid his dues as a session player, put in the hard miles on the road and stood on the precipice of superstardom. Created against all the odds, his first solo record, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII, was the statement that made him a household name. (Let’s overlook Piano Vibrations, an eminently forgettable 10-song set made by Wakeman for Polydor in ’71 that didn’t even feature…

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Prog (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 137

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