Rick Wakeman Returns To Phoenix

Rick Wakeman Returns To Phoenix With A Whole New Show
This Wednesday, March 2nd at Celebrity Theatre

Danny Zelisko Presents brings rock royalty Rick Wakeman and his “The Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour” to the historic Celebrity Theatre at 8 p.m. this Wednesday, March 2nd. Great seats have just been released, please visit www.celebritytheatre.com

The English keyboard wizard is finally able to perform his follow-up to 2019’s sell-out “The Grumpy Old Rock Star Tour” with “The Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour.” The 25-city trek offers up plenty of music and mirth. As he himself often observes, life is rarely dull when Rick Wakeman is around!

Having made his name creating prog rock extravaganzas, in his solo shows Wakeman returns to his roots with a program packed with virtuosic piano performances and hilarious anecdotes inspired by his 50-plus-year career. Repertoire will range from his solo works and his stints in the bandYES through to his early days as a session musician playing keyboards on such classics as David Bowie’s “Life On Mars,” plus surprises like his unique interpretations of Beatles’ hits and many more memorable tunes, adapted for the grand piano. And all this glorious music is punctuated by riotous reflections on his life and the people he’s met along the way.

Professional musician, keyboard player, songwriter, broadcaster and raconteur, Wakeman’s career started as a much-in-demand session player, who performed on recordings by David Bowie, Elton John, Lou Reed, Al Stewart and hundreds more artists. His big break came in 1971 when he joined YES, who went on to become the most successful prog rock band in the world.

In the Seventies, he achieved chart-topping success with solo albums such as Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which cumulatively sold over 10,000,000 copies in North America alone.

He has written several film scores, and in the UK, has built up an impressive reputation as a witty guest and host on shows like Grumpy Old Men, Countdown, Watchdog and the comedy cabaret show Live at Jongleurs. His wickedly irreverent acceptance speech when YES was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 nearly brought the house down!

That same year, he made British chart history when his Piano Portraits record became the first solo piano instrumental album to enter the UK’s Top 10 on release – a feat he then repeated with 2018’s Piano Odyssey. Both records feature tunes that have a special connection with Wakeman’s personal musical journey and his subsequent tours.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Reserved tickets ($35, $65 and $95) are still available at www.celebritytheatre.com. All tickets are subject to sales tax, facility and ticketing surcharges. All ages welcome. Celebrity Theatre is located at 440 N. 32nd St., in Phoenix.

About Danny Zelisko Presents: Danny Zelisko has been bringing shows to the Southwest since 1974. He founded the legendary Evening Star Productions in 1976, helping make the Southwest a viable stop on most contemporary tours, producing thousands of shows over the years. Danny proudly partnered Grateful Dead shows with Bill Graham Presents in Phoenix and Las Vegas in the ’80s and ’90s.

About Celebrity Theatre: Celebrity Theatre is one of Phoenix’s most intriguing historic landmarks. The venue opened in 1964 with the musical “South Pacific” starring Betsy Palmer. In the years since, it has hosted such stars as George Carlin, Joe Cocker, Carol Channing, Billy Joel, Def Leppard, Smashing Pumpkins, Louis CK, Chris Rock, David Bowie, B.B. King, Nat King Cole, Roger Daltrey, Don Rickles and Fleetwood Mac among many other legendary performers. For more than 50 years, the facility has provided patrons with the ultimate in entertainment viewing featuring an extremely rare revolving stage and no seat is more than 70 feet away from the stage!