Tony Banks or Rick Wakeman

chopper wrote: NickHall wrote: Wakeman way ahead of Banks in technical ability. I've read that Genesis used to skip the piano intro of "Firth of Fifth" because Banks couldn't play it live. I don't know whether this is true or not, although I doubt it as the keyboard player from tribute band Los Endos has no trouble playing it. Wakeman is technically better but doesn't always pick the best keyboard sounds. I'm going to go for Wakeman for the glorious church organ section of "Close To The Edge" and the instrumental section of "And You And I".

I had read something similar about the intro to Firth of Fifth... but I think it had more to do with him not being able to find the right sound on his keyboards in order to play that, though I'm not really sure.

Dellinger wrote: chopper wrote: NickHall wrote: Wakeman way ahead of Banks in technical ability. I've read that Genesis used to skip the piano intro of "Firth of Fifth" because Banks couldn't play it live. I don't know whether this is true or not, although I doubt it as the keyboard player from tribute band Los Endos has no trouble playing it. Wakeman is technically better but doesn't always pick the best keyboard sounds. I'm going to go for Wakeman for the glorious church organ section of "Close To The Edge" and the instrumental section of "And You And I". I had read something similar about the intro to Firth of Fifth... but I think it had more to do with him not being able to find the right sound on his keyboards in order to play that, though I'm not really sure.

I doubt it's because he couldn't play it because he always played the interlude anyway, which is a repetition of the intro.  Yeah, it's probably the tone or something like that. 

I really don't like comparisons between fine musicians, in the end, it's all down to personal taste, but if I must choose, I would say Rick, because of virtuoso technique.

infocat wrote: rogerthat wrote: Dellinger wrote: chopper wrote: NickHall wrote: Wakeman way ahead of Banks in technical ability. I've read that Genesis used to skip the piano intro of "Firth of Fifth" because Banks couldn't play it live. I don't know whether this is true or not, although I doubt it as the keyboard player from tribute band Los Endos has no trouble playing it. Wakeman is technically better but doesn't always pick the best keyboard sounds. I'm going to go for Wakeman for the glorious church organ section of "Close To The Edge" and the instrumental section of "And You And I". I had read something similar about the intro to Firth of Fifth... but I think it had more to do with him not being able to find the right sound on his keyboards in order to play that, though I'm not really sure. I doubt it's because he couldn't play it because he always played the interlude anyway, which is a repetition of the intro.  Yeah, it's probably the tone or something like that.  I also heard it was the tone. Slightly disappointed not to hear the intro at a recent Hackett show.  And I know Roger King can play it, because I've seen it on a Hackett video.

Wakeman. Because of the capes.

Rick Wakeman

Tom Ozric wrote: More folks need to discover Rick's 'Silent Nights' album - such an overlooked and underappreciated album - on the surface it's poppy, but below shows a certain mastery of blending accessibility with prog chops and subtle complexities.  It also features one of the better vocalists (Gordon Neville) to grace a Wakeman album

Cool Tom. Sounds really interesting. Loving keyboardist solo projects lately.

Love Micheal Pinella's solo work from symphony x. Oh and just recently purchased Clive Nolan's ALCHEMY album. Look forward to getting that one.

Actually. Come to think of it. I'd choose Clive Nolan over Wakemen and Banks. :)

I enjoy both keyboardists immensely. They each have their own definitive style and have contributed greatly to progressive rock. My vote goes to Wakeman because I feel though both are musical equals, Wakeman generated a showmanship that  epitomized the grandeur and maybe over indulgence of prog. He was much more of an ambassador for prog than Banks ever was. Most people would not even recognize a picture of Banks but few prog fans or general music lovers would not recognize the man with the long blond hair and flowing cape. The image & musicality Wakeman brought was 'instrumental' (pun intended) in bringing prog to the uninitiated.

Rick Wakeman.  His vast solo collection, albeit patchy, contains some real gems.  Also he is a great bloke whereas Tony Banks is a bit pompous.

brainstormer wrote: Rick Wakeman is a big celebrity in the UK for non-musical things..  That's a pretty unique position among proggers. Can you think of any others?   I wonder in the non-English European countries....I think maybe someone in France is also like that that was also from prog.