10 Greatest Keyboardists In Hard Rock

For as much freedom as the prog rock genre offered piano players, it didn't go without its fair share of self-indulgence. Even though some acts could play their instruments like virtuosos, it didn't stop some acts from venturing too far the other way and getting boring by comparison. Even though many prog artists forgot how to write songs, Rick Wakeman emerged as the true prog Renaissance man.

Long before he even became a part of Yes, Wakeman was already setting the bar for what the keyboard's role could be in heavy music, going so far as to contribute production advice and keyboard lines to Black Sabbath's more experimental works. Once he settled into his prog rock brethren though, it was time for him to make his real mark on the world, from the twinkling arpeggios throughout Roundabout to the virtual headtrip he provided on the backing track to Close to the Edge. Even some of the more over-indulgent moments of his career like on Tales From Topographic Oceans are still amazing, as he teaches a masterclass on how to combine classical stylings with the rock and roll aesthetic.

Let's not forget that this man was able to do all of this while performing every single night with Yes dressed like some sort of prog rock wizard. Despite the borderline Gandalf cosplay, Rick Wakeman has certainly earned his title as one of the wise sages of rock and roll.