Grumpy Old Rockstar and Other Wonderous Stories

By: Rick Wakeman

Narrated by: Rick Wakeman

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Around about September of 1948, Mr and Mrs Cyril Wakeman had an early night. And some time later, at Perivale in Middlesex, Mrs Wakeman produced a bonny baby son. They named him Richard, but he quickly became known as Rick.

Rick was a likable little fellow who had a talent for the piano (and for making trouble), and music became his life. Later, he joined a popular music group called Yes and became a legend.

Much later, he became a Grumpy Old Man who appears on Countdown, hosts a hugely popular radio show on Planet Rock and performs a one-man show telling stories about his rather extraordinary life.

That's where this book you comes in. Mr Wakeman is simply one of the great storytellers of our age - let's face it, he has some fabulous material. It seemed a shame that some of the funniest yarns should not be more widely known. So he accepted some cash and here we are.

Curl up by the fire with a Grumpy Old Rockstar and your nearest and dearest. We defy you not to listen and laugh.

©2008 Rick Wakeman (P)2008 Random House Audiobooks

Love this, such a great telling of his experience.

Such a great telling of his experiences. The production quality made it easy for me to hear.

Such a fun listen

Rick weaves a story like few other musicians. He talks to the reader/ listener not at the reader/ listener. He also has a vocal delivery that just makes me smile. It's like sitting in a pub listening to a dear friend tell stories... which, I guess what this book really is.

Rick Wakeman: Office Bloody Rocker

Rick Wakeman delivers a collection of anecdotes from his amazing 50 year career that at times had me wiping tears from eyes but those were tears of laughter because these are some of the best unfiltered rock stories I've ever heard! Wakeman has no axe to grind here and his tales are full of folly,fondness and admiration for the many of the colorful characters he has encountered and how he has seen the world change from his days playing gigs behind the iron curtain to 100,000 seat arenas with Spinal Tap inspired stage sets.

"Rocky Wigwam" as one promoter called him is a complete 180 from how I had perceived him (snooty art rocker) but in turn is quite the affable english rascal one would expect to find at the neighborhood pub captivating the crowd with his hilarious tales, which after a year of Audible listens about serial killers, post apocalyptic worlds, monsters, killer robots, endless tragedies and scientific wonders were a breath of fresh air... unless of course you were in YESes dressing room...(get the book)

Old Rock Star Rocks!

The adventures of Rick Wakeman will take you to a time and place when Rock Stars were just starting to come into their own.

For a hilariously good time with a Brilliant narrator who really lived the life read “Grumpy Old Rockstar and Other Wonderous Stories”

Great fun form the golden age of rock and roll.

Rick's narration really brings these stories to life.I am so glad that he did not use a professional narrator, it would have ruined the stories and lost half of the fun. If you like rock and roll and especially if you are a yes fan this is a must listen.

Excellent!

This will be one of the ones I listen to again and again; great voice, rhythm, and pace.

Wasn't a Rick Wakeman fan, until now!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. This is one of the funniest books I have ever "read". Rick's life and bizarre experiences are beyond belief. What a life! And his storytelling style is spot on for the material.

What did you like best about this story?

Drinking airplanes dry.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably smuggling Soviet captains uniforms out of Russia.

Any additional comments?

This is a book that anyone would enjoy. Even if you aren't a Wakeman fan, even if you don't like Yes, or prog rock, you will love the craziness of a life beyond anything you could imagine. Booze, money and a Keith Moon-like personality make for some interesting moments. And yes, Keith Moon does thrash a restaurant in this book.

The Six Chapter's of mayhem, music and pure joy

Love Rick and have since reading early interviews as a kid.
But this debut is an astounding account. Rick Wakeman is a natural... I can't say enough!

This Curmudgeon's favorite "Grumpy Old Rock Star"

Would you consider the audio edition of Grumpy Old Rockstar and Other Wonderous Stories to be better than the print version?

Absolutely! Why would anyone NOT want to hear Rick's own voice reading the book rather than hearing some silly professional narrator or random VIH (Voice in Head) stumble through such a flavorful text?

What does Rick Wakeman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Didn't you read my answer to your first question?!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really "laugh"-- more like "chortle." An occasional "guffaw."

Ok, maybe more than once I ended up like Uncle Albert (from Mary Poppins... not the Paul McCartney one), splitting a gut and gasping for breath. Not for the timid, this book

Any additional comments?

As the "Corner Office Curmudgeon," if not a "Grumpy Old Entrepreneur," I'm at least known as a "snarky Uncle Horace" to many a tech start-up founder and the VC community. And yet I found virtually NOTHING to complain about!

Well, get off if my lawn anyway!

I'm a proud, if a bit gruff child of the 70's and prog rockaholic myself, Rick Wakeman has always been an enigma who in his later years has been reborn as a radio/TV etc. celebrity and has ended up yes (no pun intended) reminding me of snarky Uncle Horace indeed.

Settle in for a spider web of interconnected quirky stories delivered by a grand storyteller and legendary contrarian non-conformist who always seemed to be at the center of near mythical calamities and bizarre going-on associated with the excess of the time and place. I imagine many, many a late night pub outing (non-alcoholic, of course) could be filled with his banter. Should be good for three or four more books, at least.

Can't wait for the audio version-- nothing else will do-- of the author reading the sequel. Until then I guess I'll just have to be satisfied to follow the Premier League and catch another ARW gig.

But if that fat ol' geezer chick with the faded Strawbs T-shirt that was "sitting" in front of me at the last show is there again and spends the night on her feet dancing (more like shuffling) and blocking my view of the "stout" fellow wearing a cape playing keyboards, I'll have to thump her boney head and tell her to squeeze back into her seat. Same with her reed-thin middle-aged companion (who despite all logic, reason and conceivable imagination appeared to be her daughter with a permed, slightly less gray hairstyle) wearing a Union tour tee tied into a halter top.

Sheesh. No respect for elderly, let alone the music. Kids these days..

good listen

Great for long trip with lots of LOL moments. Even had husband asking to put the book back on