Rick Wakeman
Photo: Stéphane Gallay / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 (editorial use)
Rick Wakeman is best known as the flamboyant keyboard virtuoso of Yes, but in David Bowie’s early years he played a crucial — if relatively brief — role. His expressive piano work added drama, depth and melodic authority to several of Bowie’s most important early recordings.
Wakeman’s contribution belongs to a formative moment in Bowie’s career, when ambition, theatricality and songcraft were rapidly crystallising.
- Role: Session keyboardist
- Key song: “Life on Mars?”
- Era: Early 1970s
- Main instrument: Piano
- Known for: Dramatic, virtuosic melodic style
From folk experiments to cinematic songwriting
As Bowie moved away from folk-leaning experiments toward a fully formed singer-songwriter and glam-era identity, Wakeman helped him articulate that transition musically. His piano parts did not merely accompany the songs — they actively shaped them.
On “Life on Mars?”, the piano becomes almost a second lead character. Flowing arpeggios, dramatic accents and carefully judged timing give the song its unmistakable cinematic scale.
Freedom within the arrangement
Wakeman’s work with Bowie demonstrates how open Bowie was to strong musical personalities. Rather than restricting him, Bowie allowed Wakeman to play expressively and sometimes extravagantly — trusting instinct over restraint.
This freedom resulted in arrangements that felt emotionally heightened without losing structural clarity.
A brief but lasting collaboration
Although Wakeman did not become a permanent collaborator — his path soon led further into progressive rock and solo projects — his contribution to Bowie’s early catalogue remains highly significant.
In later interviews, Wakeman consistently speaks with warmth and respect about Bowie, emphasising his courage to take risks in both arrangement and song structure.
Legacy within Bowie’s early sound
For many listeners, Rick Wakeman is forever linked to the unforgettable piano on “Life on Mars?”, but his impact reaches further. He helped create a sonic environment in which Bowie’s theatrical, cinematic imagination could fully flourish.
In the vast mosaic of Bowie’s career, Wakeman may occupy only a small space — but it is a brilliant, shimmering piece that helped shape the early masterpieces.