Rick Wakeman discusses memoir, David Bowie and rescued bears in Channel 5 interview

In an interview on Channel 5's 5 News with Dan Walker, Rick Wakeman discussed his new memoir, his work with David Bowie and a piano performance for rescued bears. Channel 5 noted that Wakeman is 77, has written his autobiography and is heading out on tour next year.

Wakeman told the programme he trained at the Royal College of Music, where paid session work was banned. Channel 5 reported that he was caught doing sessions and told off. He said his clarinet teacher, Basil Tchaikov, advised him to empty his locker, walk out and not come back.

He described visiting Bowie at Haddon Hall in Beckenham, Kent. Bowie played him songs on a battered 12-string guitar and asked him to perform a piece on piano, Wakeman said. He told Channel 5 that Bowie asked him to join the Spiders From Mars on the same day Yes invited him to join. Wakeman chose Yes because he wanted the chance to write and be creative, he said. Bowie later told him it was the right choice.

Wakeman also spoke about difficult moments, including heart attacks in 1975. He said the downs in life help him enjoy the ups. As an ambassador for Animals Asia, he told Channel 5, he wanted to go to Vietnam to play a concert to moon bears rescued from bile farming. Channel 5 reported that the charity needed to get 125 bears out and required government permission. Wakeman recalled that a bear named Nora stood on her legs during the music. He thanked her for what he called the first standing ovation he had received from a bear.