The following section comprises questions that were put to Rick on the 14th November 1997.

• Bill Hammell
  • On what Yes songs did Rick actually contribute to the writing on (some are uncredited and some are ambiguous like the ABWH project) and to what extent on them?
    • Far more than I was credited for. But that was a contractual problem with the publishing company rather than any artistic dispute reasons. Although I've missed out on royalties as a result over the years, I don't bear any grudges over it.
  • What songs on the infamous "Paris Sessions" and other unreleased Yes songs did he write part of?
    • I co-wrote approx 90% of the "Paris Sessions" with Jon
• Alexei Michailowsky
  • How long did the keyboard recordings of Six Wives actually last (the cover says that it was from february to august, 1972, but I suppose it was intercalated with Rick's other projects, like the Yes album "close to the edge", which dates from the same period)?
    • Approx 50% of that actual time period was spent on 6 Wives
  • How many channels on the recording machine? And what was the overdubbing technique used? Simple reduction, Rick listening to what was already recording and doing it instrument by instrument?
    • It was recorded on a 16 track, with much use of track bouncing. It was mixed on 2" 24 track.
  • Was the basic track of "Catherine of Aragon" played live at the studio (seems like Rick playing piano, moog and mellotron with the other musicians and adding electric piano and hammond in an overdub)?
    • This was the first track recorded and yes, myself, Steve, Bill and Chris recorded the track live and it was then overdubbed. I still have the original tape of the demo which was called (and is labelled) "Demo - Handle With Care", a parody on Fragile
  • "Catherine Howard" has a feel of "live at the studio", and Rick particularly has the thing of trying to play the most parts he can live, at the same time (including doing several counterpoints). Does anybody know how much "live" he did that recording?
    • Again, it was piano with a band and then overdubbed
  • Did Rick use the two minimoogs triggered at CV-to gate anytime in the recording sessions?
    • No
  • A "custom mixer" is mentioned in the record sleeve. What was it?
    • Because in those days there were no keyboard mixers, and my collection of keyboards at the time had varying output levels, some high some low etc. we needed to build a mixer that coped with all the different levels for each instrument.
  • Were the vibes at the intro of "Anne Boleyn" played by Rick on a mellotron or are they real vibes played by someone?
    • Real vibes played by Frank Ricotti
  • In the sleeve it's written that Rick used a mellotron to play "vocals". Did he record samples of backing vocals in the instrument or simply used that typical airy vocal samples?
    • They were only used a tiny amount and were sampled from voice. However most of the vocals were sung.
  • How did Rick use the ARP synth mentioned in the sleeve?
    • By accident! An ARP salesman came to see me with the thing and I plugged it in and recorded a little bit with it. The guy then packed it up and took it away.
• Jon Hinchliffe
  • What is the Story behind The Painter on Classical Connection being called Harvest Festival on Country Airs?
    • Although the pieces have similar styles, they are actually two distinct pieces.
  • How many Tracks has Rick Written effectively in the time it took him to play them? I have heard him State "After the Ball" was one during one of his stories. And On Our Tune he said Gone But Not Forgotten was the same.
    • Gone But Not Forgotten
    • After The Ball
    • Children of Chernobyl
  • How does the following fit into Starship trooper played live?:
    [D|A|G|D] x 4
    [D|A|C|G] x 5
    |Bflat/C|C [G(i think)/A|A]x4 |a/b|b|
    
    • That sequence was actually taken from the 1st solo of the arrangement at that time
  • The BBC from time to time show a old clip of Rick playing Arthur or something on a Rock at the Coast. Eg On Our Tune. Also on our tune was a clip of Rick Writing. What were these from?
    • Taken from a BBC program called "Success Stories" in 1976. It was actually Tintagel
• Stan Amster
  • On the album YESSHOWS. Inside their are 4 photos. Looking at Rick's rig facing the C-3. To his left their are 2 Minimoogs. WHAT is below the 2 moog?. They can't be Mellotrons because of the physical size of the Mellotrons. Or are they?. And below the 2 mystery keyboards is a Yahama CP-70 Electronic Piano?. Then on the right there is the Steinway. Above that is a RMI KC-2. What is sitting on top of the RMI besides a cup of beer?. I figured out that the keyboard on the top, left, is a Birotron with the controller for the moog pedals. [photo to accompany question]
    • Below the moogs are Birotrons. The electric piano is a Fender Rhodes. I've no idea what was on the RMI next to the beer. Probably a curry!
  • Did you ever quit smoking?. If so, HOW did you get over the morning smoke(s)?
    • I was smoking 40 Embassy a day, then down to 30 cigars a day. On tour in the USA in 1979, October I think, I was staying at a friend's house and I woke up with the usual morning hack. I thought to myself, "Why am I doing this?". I haven't smoked since and didn't need anything to get over the mornings.
• Graham Johnson
  • When are the 2 new trilogies are supposed to be released?
    • Well the deal with Sattva has not been finalised, so they will hopefully be released early in 1998. I really want to get them out though, because I feel very positive about them, even after all this time!
• Brian Neeson
  • Does anyone know Rick's take on the "written by" credits for this and the other GFTO tracks? Rick was originally hired as a session musician for this album, and I believe Moraz likes to claim some of the arrangement credits for keyboards, although his name is not on the cover.
    • His name isn't on the cover for a simple reason. I'll leave you to work out what that reason is...
• David Sherwood
  • Who owns the copyright on the old stuff (6 wives, Arthur etc.)?
    • Split betweeen Rondor and Palin Music
• TimeLady Rabeca
  • I would like to know if Rick is a fan of Dr. Who, or if the scarf he wore in the picture for Going for the One (I believe, offhand I'm not sure- it's the one with the naked guy standing in front of a bunch of skyscrapers)or if it just happened to resemble the 4th Doctor's and was not done intentionally? Also, if the picture was an intentional reference to Dr. Who, could you ask him if I could put it on my webpage (which features Dr. Who music and lists several songs from popular groups that have Dr. Who references.) If you want to check the site out, its at www.geocities.com/area51/cavern/8232
    • Yes, I am a big fan of Doctor Who - but the scarf is co-incidence I'm afraid. I can see your point though - it wasn't intended.
• Bruce
  • Does Rick have plans to tour outside the UK in the near future?? Hopefully in the US?
    • I appreciate that you're probably all getting sick of hearing this, but it's down to finance. Unless I can get a promoter to "actively" promote a tour AND provide cast iron financial guarantees (underwritten in blood), then I just can't take the chance. Please don't think that I don't want to though. I've just been let down too many times recently.
  • Does Rick plan on recording a new studio album with Adam anytime in the forseeable future? Maybe some Renaissance period music?? or maybe Baroque!!
    • I'm very proud of Adam, and he currently has plans for a busy future. We're really enjoying playing together live at the moment and we enjoy recording together, but with both of our schedules it seems unlikely that we'll be able to record in the foreseeable future. That's not to say that we won't in the future.
  • What does Rick like to listen to outside of his own work and that of his sons (and Nina!)??
    • I listen to mainly choral music, then East European, and of course Prokoffiev. When travelling in the car, I mainly listen to Talk Radio and Radio 4.
  • What are his impressions of playing smaller venues?? I mean things like the intimacy with the audience, the reduced logistics involved with touring with a smaller entourage and equipment as opposed to that used for some of these mega staged events, for example - U2, the Stones etc.
    • I love playing smaller venues, hence the current tour and the piano tours. They're more of a challenge - you can't hide behind lights and massive sound systems. The audience hears every note, so they've got to be right. I also get a better rapport with the audience of course. Sure, you get a buzz from big venues, but on the whole give me smaller gigs any day.
  • Has Rick ever been approached to play a musician in a guest spot on a TV show?? Something where he could play a couple songs, at least!! He'd be perfect for an episode or 2 of Star Trek!! (you know, Starship Trooper!!)
    • I once played a piano player in the Hale and Pace Show (UK comedy double act). It was a skit on Casablanca and I was playing in "Rick's Bar".
• Thomas E Deptula
  • What is Rick's favorite song that he wrote?
  • What is Rick's favorite song?
  • What is Rick's favorite LP?
    • I'm going to have to be evasive here. I often get asked this, but I just couldn't pick. Obviously some pieces are special for different reasons, mainly because of the way they affect me. For this reason, Gone But Not Forgotten is special.
• Bill Watkins
  • Does Rick work with,sing in, arrange music for the choir at his church?
    • No I don't - Howard does a good enough job without me. He should really be a professional musician.
  • Does he or his wife teach a Sunday School class?
    • No we don't, mainly because that sort of thing requires a committment, and with our schedule it wouldn't be fair.
  • I have read his favorite prayer, but would be interested to know his favorite verse or passage?
    • Job Ch 8 VV1-8 (this chap/verse may be incorrect, I'm checking - Wayne)
  • I noted after purchasing 'Country Airs' a similarity between the piano line used in "Quiet Valleys" as being the same melody line in the piano/string opening to the ABWH "The Meeting", but with small variations. Is it meant to be?
    • Err, no - but curiously there is a link between "The Meeting" and "Nina" on the Family Album. Both pieces have the same basis.
• Barbara Nachtigall
  • I know that Rick likes to play music in a number of different styles. Has he ever considered doing an album on which he plays one or two pieces in various styles? One of my favorite classical albums is Pachelbel's Greatest Hit (singular). It is a collection of the famous Canon in D played by a number of different groups in different styles and arrangements. I would love to hear Rick do something like that, perhaps with Merlin or Catherine Howard, (two of my very favorites ;-) or with anything that suits him.
    • It's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure that it would be commercially viable, and sadly I can't afford to release things that aren't these days. I'm not sure that the general public would appreciate hearing the same thing over and over again, even though you obviously would.
• Peter Gawlocki
  • Is any of his music available in orchestral score?
    • In a word, no
  • Would he perform with an orchestra, if invited?
    • Yes of course, subject to the conditions mentioned before.
• Dave Taylor
  • When is Rick going to do another full-on prog ROCK album, like Criminal Record?
    • That would require a major label to be interested, and they aren't. I've tried
  • Were the lyrics to the Yes song Awaken from GFTO really inspired by the Christian novels by Calvin Miller, The Singer/The Song/The Finale.
    • I honestly don't know, you'd have to ask Jon
  • Is Rick really going to play guest keyboards on the next Iona album?
    • Not to my knowledge - but I'd love to if they asked
  • Are there any other really good Christian progressive rock bands that Hope Records are working with?
    • We're certainly interested in various bands, but other projects have meant that I haven't put as much time into Hope as I would like at the moment. We're hoping to push it forward in the new year.
  • Are there any present or former members of Yes (besides Rick) that are sympathetic to the Christian viewpoint?
    • Again, I really don't know, and certainly wouldn't presume to talk about others personal beliefs. In the same way, I never push my own beliefs on to anyone else
• José Jacintho Sanchez
  • What are Rick's never realized dreams, in the musical field?
    • To record one more epic really. Although if it all ended tomorrow for any reason, I really couldn't and wouldn't complain. I'd love to do a remake of King Arthur and the infamous "Return to the Centre of the Earth". It would be great to get something released in the 25th anniversary year, but as I said a minute ago, they need a major label on board.