Rick Wakeman Postpones Wakemanfest and Tour Dates, Citing Health Concerns

An undisclosed "serious health scare" has cleared former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman's concert calendar for the foreseeable future.

Classic Rock Magazine reports that the impacted dates include this year's Wakemanfest, which was scheduled to take place from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. Though tickets still seem to be selling as of this writing, the report points to a post at Wakeman's site in which he explains, "Although my health has improved and blood pressure heading the right way, etc. etc. ... on advice, I have had to take a really close look at what is currently in for the rest of this year and doing quite a lot more culling."

As Wakeman goes on to admit, the "advice" he refers to isn't just medical — it's also marital. "Apart from Wakemanfest, a proposed 16 piano dates in Scandinavia currently penciled for November and December have had to go and also the proposed Journey to the Centre of the Earth in Tenerife at Xmas is also under review," he continues. "It’s totally my fault, as I allowed the diary to start filling up again and everything stemmed from that. My management, agents and indeed my wife basically read me the riot act ... AGAIN!!! ... and I succumbed to the fact that I really do have to listen."

Wakeman stresses that nothing is being canceled, merely postponed — but in the meantime, his Sept. 11 gig at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse will be his only remaining date with his English Rock Ensemble for 2015, which he insists will make for a show that will be "very special indeed."

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