Rick Wakeman on the new Yes:
eb: As a father, is it gratifying to have your son stepping in to fill your shoes as the new keyboard player for Yes?
Rick: I got him the job as it happens. But we don’t discuss it at all because I don’t have any respect for the current tribute band that is out there. You can’t have Yes without Jon [Anderson, vocalist].
Jeb: I talked to Jon Anderson last night. He is, obviously, not happy that Yes went out without him. He said to me that he does not think it is Yes unless Rick Wakeman and himself are in that band. He said it just does not have the same energy, no matter how good it sounds. Do you agree with that? Is he justified in his frustrations?
Rick: He is completely justified. Yes is no longer a part of my life so I have nothing to add except to say that Jon is absolutely right. I think most fans would agree as well. But, it’s all over with regards to the classic lineup now. I just get on with my life and my music.
Jeb: Don't take this the wrong way, but certain members of Yes are well, rather stuffy. As unlikely as it would seem for a progressive rock band, were Yes wild on the road? Were there any televisions flying out of windows?
Rick: We actually kept ourselves to ourselves. Jon and I socialized during the last load of touring and are really good friends. In the early days, we had different ideas of what socializing meant, so we went our different ways.
Jeb: It has been said you left Yes, initially over musical differences. Yet, some Yes fans whisper that you really left because you were a meat eater and they were vegetable eating tree huggers and it drove you crazy. It sounds like it could not be true but I had to ask.
Rick: I need to write a book and dispel all these completely stupid myths! Why on earth would other people being vegetarian affect any relationships or, for that matter, any musical writings or performances?
Rick Wakeman on Mellotrons: Do not read if you love the Mellotron!!!
Jeb: If this is true, then I want the entire scoop. Legend holds you had a Mellotron but it was an awkward beast to play. So you took it out to a field and burned it. True?
Rick: It is well documented I’m afraid, so there is no scoop there. I burnt three of them in a field in Switzerland. They had great sound but they were a total nightmare in every other way.
http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/int ... akeman.htm