Rick Wakeman & Brian May-Starship Trooper ("Würm" final sequence by Steve Howe) live at the Starmus.

[@marksweeney7327]

For Brian May to play this as enthusiastically as he does shows great respect for the song and YES and Steve Howe.

[@lapdawg60]

Yeah, not too bad for a guy with a PhD in astrophysics (that was sarcasm- I love May's playing in both tone and style)!

[@davep8221]

Queen liked him enough to invite him to play on _Innuendo_ Steve had nothing but praise for all of Queen. 1. Steve 2. Brian/Mike Oldfield My three faves by far.

[@GR8GTRFAN]

It's amazing how we critique a song. This is just some great musicians jamming out to a classic Yes tune. Nothing more and nothing less. No need to compare anything. They are having a great time playing it and I for one can appreciate this creation. It's not about May or Howe, or Rick or his son. Not even about rather Squire was better. Just enjoy instead of comparing. I'm sure their thoughts were soley aimed at just rockin away this song. Enjoy!!!!

[@superslayerguy]

Well said

[@myoldmate]

Yep, the purists will nay say, but this is really good isn't it.

[@GR8GTRFAN]

@@myoldmate Yes, very good my friend.

[@natestakely1478]

If the idea from inception is to do Yes songs you have to get a thunderous bass. All else is great

[@awickedtribe]

Right? Here's a tight band of excellent musicians doing what they do best... nothing matters except the eargasm.

[@p-Nitti]

Dr.Sir Brian May and Maestro Rick Wakeman taking the Starship thru the Wurm Hole traveled back in Time to when Music was art.

[@nordvegfigg7746]

That G - Eb - C (I - bVI - IV) chord sequence in WURM was the very first Yes music I ever learned at the tender age of 14 in 1971. Those three chords started me down the prog rock road. I'll be 65 next year and still play every day. I hope I'll have my 1981 Lado Solo I in my hands when I take my last breath.

[@frankscassi4960]

Damn, Brian May's sound is HUGE here. The moment he walks on stage the whole band seems to put more energy in their performance. And that final solo from Rick is pure gold. I was thinking "Yeah, still amazing but you can hear he aged", which is true, BUT the moment the rhythm sections doubles the time feel he is on fire!

[@johnotis6764]

I thought this would be yet another edition of "shredding to the oldies," then Brian May steps out of nowhere and delivers a stunning, powerful, and heartfelt solo with taste and nuanced sensibility comparable to Steve Howe at the height of his powers. It's not just an homage or a by-the-numbers crowd pleaser. May knows the song, loves the song, and adds an interpretive depth to the song while avoiding derivative playing or empty theatrics. It's the mark of a truly seasoned and gifted musician . I guess he's as good as everyone says he is--only better.

[@jaysantiago9673]

Cheers yo, but c'mon!!!!! I dare say let me hear you try to "shred to the oldies", and then I'll listen to your fine opinion. There was NOTHING wrong with this blissful cover of The Wurm.

[@Glicksman1]

@@davidharvey4059 Wrong.

[@Glicksman1]

Yes, Brian is capable of all that and more. He never shreds, the best guitarists don't. In every way (his way) Brian is equal to Steve Howe (Doubt it? Just listen to a Queen album). Music isn't a football game where we take sides. It's all good if the music is good. For those who care, the Wurm (German; Dutch: Worm) is a river in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany which rises in the Eifel mountains and flows for 57 kilometres before discharging into the Rur.

[@lapdawg60]

Just found this, and I thought the same. Plus, he has a doctorate in astrophysics, and his iconic guitar was built by him and his dad from scratch (everything -- including the pickups). Very smart guy. What makes it even more fun is he looks like Sir Isaac Newton.

[@Glicksman1]

@@lapdawg60 As for Brian's Red Special guitar, the pickups were and are slightly modified Burns Tri-Sonics which they bought and installed in the guitar.

[@brianwood7480]

I'm 72.5 and this took me right back to my teens. Brian May is beyond description on his hand-made masterpiece. It's a perfectly beautiful sunny spring day here in S.Louisiana, and all's well. Please guys, knock off the negativity and your memories. Peace to y'all.

[@brianwood7480]

And ENJOY.

[@Theytoldmetodoit1]

I live very near to Brian May and he often visits the astronomy club I belong too. Glad to say we have spoken on a few occasions due to the fact I have a masters in astrophysics and am working towards PhD also a bonus is I also play guitar, although not to his standards and I am very much with him when it come to the protection of the environment and our native woodland creatures such as badgers. He really is a very down to earth and humble guy.

[@halbos7637]

Hey Man! That is great that you are also an astrophys guy. And you are a musician. Really cool man!

[@PhillipLandmeier]

I envy you. Through my teen years my career path was astronomy until I switched to engineering in the middle of college. And a lifelong musician, classically trained on piano, pipe organ, violin. Also play guitar and sax. I'd love to have an opportunity to hang out with Brian May.

[@siddjames5058]

Bollocks

[@RicardoMartinez-jy5lo]

The Positivists today are very careful to hide the fact that Isaak Newton was an avid student of astrology back then: In fact, Newton got some of his insights on gravitation from that forgotten medieval source of knowledge and wisdom, this is astrology.

[@karmicselling4252]

@@RicardoMartinez-jy5lo Ok! But could he play guitar?

[@eel908]

Brian May and Rick Wakeman bring a higher level of consciousness to the music .

[@rickoursler2583]

This was absolutely amazing. A stunning array of musicians jamming and having fun. No more no less.

[@Marknorthway]

What a wonderful way to spend 11 minutes of your life - to watch something as good as this.

[@andythomas706]

Marknorthway: Yes Mark, it was 'cliche' heaven wasn't it!

[@d.w.5144]

I am 55 now and then I see this old guys playing their music it boosted me up for live. thank you all.

[@d.od.3463]

Hey Diermar Winter; I'm almost 75 and seen them all. I must say that this one is right at the top with the best!

[@acoronab]

God bless you

[@d.w.5144]

Hey David, you gave me hope for the next 20 years, think my ears get cracked .

[@d.w.5144]

thank you sir. God bless you too

[@johngardner4096]

I am seeing a bunch of craftsmen having the time of their lives playing together - a pleasure to watch, and a joy to hear.

[@RhysAZ2024]

The song was going great, and then Brian May came on and then him & Rick took it to the stratosphere. Holy shit!

[@jeff6899]

BINGO !!! And it never came down !

[@repo83]

I seriously doubt if Brian May is human

[@fox1729]

Exactly! It's really amazing.. and it's so nice seeing May playing so well an Howe song ,It reminded me of Howe playing on May's innuendo

[@jabehauber]

As a teenager, we would gather in my friend's house - the one where no parents were home - and play those three chords of Wurm for like an hour, taking turns soloing over them, in complete awe and reverence, yet feeling the power of what they conveyed. The amps kept getting notched up "one more loud". At one point, and no one knows how, at the end of one of these sessions a living room arm chair wound up flipped on its side. To this day, we believe the sheer volume and power of Wurm did it.

[@kernelpanic1009]

These are some of the great elders of British music. May they play on forever.

[@manuj4507]

Thanks magic Rick for this. Thanks Brian for your generosity and love for music. A tribute for us, all we fans of Yes over the world! Thanks for this gift!

[@karengarrison3666]

You know when you love something, cause you don't want it to end ~ and that is the cresendo to Starship Trooper. Brian May was brilliant, and of course Rick is on fire! 🔥

[@JayKlosinski]

The fantastic thing still about Rick Wakeman is the man still wears a cape. Even with a t shirt. Cape. I don’t have a cape. Rick Wakeman likely has giant road cases FULL of capes. Closets of capes. Capes of all colors and sizes. Capes for Christmas, vacations, family gatherings. CAPES. “Oh look, Ricky has his lovely Sparkly cape on today, he really dressed up for your 95th birthday pappy! He must think you’re very special!…” How many cape stores are left you ask? Can’t be more than 1 or 2 in the whole wide world (other than the cheap magician cape supply stores) but Rick Wakeman keeps those fine caperies in business. Only the best old capeists are still doing their work, crinkled hands from sewing new “drag bars” into torn up cape finery, renewing the glory of exquisite vintage capery, with an artistry almost gone. I don’t have a cape, you likely don’t either. But we want one. Or more. Imagine the sun streaming into your living area on a shiny autumn Sunday, padding around your home with comfy, warm fuzzy slippers, carrying a cup of hot chocolate or tea, gnawing on a sausage wrapped in a pancake, with a cape. Sounds appealing doesn’t it? Delightful even. Rick Wakeman knows. Oh yes. He knows.

[@Hidyman]

Actually, I think he wears a cloak.

[@scottwalton5888]

Fuckin Hilarious.

[@lauraarcher6996]

😅😂👍 I used to know a batty old lady who used to go out and about in a cape!!

[@artysanmobile]

@@JayKlosinski Capes work for keyboard players and singers

[@jimhanty8149]

I layed in my collage dorm room in 1971 listening to The Yes Album in the dark that was the last track on the album if I remember right… lowest bass line ever heard at that time…. .. what a wonderful time it was… 52 years ago and with a totaly different group of people playing that progression it is still exciting …..in a few years years no one from that time will be left to lend the same excitement to the performance… everyone here should be grateful that a few still are out there doing it…

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

I really don’t care who isn’t and who shouldn’t and who couldn’t. This is just a bloody great tune played by some of prog-rock’s finest ever 😊👌

[@PhillipLandmeier]

Holy shit. Fantastic. Wow. Wow. Steve Howe's composition is an invitation to tear it up, and they just tore it up! This is kickass music.

[@jackhamlin5198]

Rick Wakeman, 71 and still wearing a cape. How cool is that? LMAO

[@meyerweinstock9567]

freakin' UBER cool.... (Yes fan since '69)

[@Hydrocorax]

But now he just wears an old T-shirt under it.

[@TheRealist2022]

I went to the "Grumpy Old Christmas Show" in Liverpool last year. He wore an old sweatshirt, jogging pants and trainers....under a frock coat...was very disappointed with it being christmas...

[@patrickgrant109]

It doesn't get Old!! It gets better and better..... WOW!! Thanks for posting 😎✌👍

[@geraldbasso1782]

Totally great here! Could listen to this all day long!

[@aviduser1961]

As a long time fan of Yes, I have never seen another musician enter Rick's circle of keyboards. Thank goodness it was Brian May. That was great! I just hope that the people in the audience knew how special this was. Amazing! Thank you for posting!

[@marcelofernandoka5463]

TWO LEGENDS AND A SUPERLATIVE CREW!!!!!!! AMAZING, WONDERFULL, AWESOME SESSION!!!!!!

[@michaelflowers5712]

That was great!

[@robertwyman9202]

Excellent. Wakeman is such a freak. I love him. Steve Howe is so underrated. Technically brilliant, and good ear for the melody. Throw in Brian May, and how have I not seen this before!!!

[@norbertovelazquez7441]

Wow just wow!! Wakeman and Brian!! Epic

[@Brian_B505]

Am I dreaming? BM jamming with Wakeman on Starship Trooper?! Thank you for sharing this!

[@d.od.3463]

This needs to be released on disk so we all can play over and over...

[@alanbruce8632]

"Or Am I Dreaming?" was a song Wakeman played when he was with The Strawbs.

[@aboy9984]

Well he is an astrophysicist

[@TheRealist2022]

@@aboy9984 Ooohh!! He can read our horoscopes??? Cool!!!

[@estebangranados2583]

Not a dream!!!!

[@bdtheqb]

Everything is going great.. so then you add an astrophysicist... and it becomes ...Stellar..

[@BrigidFitch2112]

I see what you did there, and appreciate it :)

[@HabuBeemer]

Nice! and well said.

[@arabianattitude]

Hell YEAH!!!!

[@767driver4]

How lucky we are to have grown up with this phenomenal talent!

[@davidmuir7711]

Sir Brian comes out and the song becomes something else altogether. He is larger than the whole rest of the musicians. Thank you for sharing the show with us.

[@stefanosensolini2259]

OH NO! IT'S ONLY A KIND OF MUSIC EASIER TO YOU !! YES VS QUEEN THERE IS NO RACE!!

[@davidmuir7711]

@@stefanosensolini2259 all due respetivo maestro, you should listen. Brian brings enthusiasm to what is otherwise a dull and listless rendition.

[@billdavis1054]

This is a great Jam, of a good Yes song. I saw Yes at least 15 times. This is a good version, and kudos to the musicians involved made it fun!

[@smithc9698]

Amazing what 3 beautiful chords can do in the hands of geniuses

[@beekay5914]

This song is practically sacred to me, I love it so much, so it must be treated with reverence. The guy on the blue guitar honored the song with his playing, Brian May was dazzling, brilliant, and Wakeman was scary good as usual. Wow.

[@petersneddon1579]

That's the best I've ever seen Brian May play, Rick is a superstar and a gentleman and I adore him.

[@davidm1252]

Nothing short of an epic performance - absolutely brilliant and a powerful performance is an understatement . Great great musicians !! Long live rock !!

[@esportswomen]

You complainers are on drugs! This is fab. Its not the original but its not trying to be. Its called PROG rock for a reason. Thanks kids :)

[@spaghettioverlord3247]

Of course I’m on drugs. Why else would I be here?

[@magneto7930]

Huge Yes fan here, but I'm an admirer of BM as well. Saw Queen in concert with the legendary Freddie Mercury. Saw Yes quite a few times. I'm not going to judge this performance. All I can say is that if you were in the audience you would have loved it regardless. Brian was a guest having fun with the boys, it's what famous musicians do. Brian is not trying to be Steve Howe, he's just being himself. Lay off the judgment and just enjoy the jam!

[@estebangranados2583]

Let's consider ourselves lucky listening to this masterpiece!!

[@nz6065]

Incredible ! Yes was my favorite Group in the seventies and Wurm was my favorite movement .

[@johannesswarts1440]

Jay-zum!! Great to see a bunch of old warhorses can still show how it's done! All these musicians obviously enjoy playing together - no show, no fancy effects or clothes - just damn good music! A pleasure to watch and listen to! Thank you!

[@paulinethepope]

'No fancy effects or clothes' yeah apart from Mr Wakeman wearing a cloak.

[@aldito7586]

Rick Wakeman And Brian May. You really don't get better than this !!!

[@oliveringram3056]

YES you do.....Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe..!!!!

[@RichWards-Wins]

Brian comes in and makes the jam session into an EPIC jam session.

[@thecandlebombs]

think I need a cigarette after this one fantastic! brilliant!!

[@GuitarBassCigar]

Its amazing to have the opportunity to see legends blend their styles. Musical imitation is "easy" but recreating a legendary song in your own style, and keeping the original feel, is not as easy. All the musicians here deserve the spotlight as everything was fantastic.

[@rupe53]

Always interesting to hear one of the greats playing a tune from another great. It shows compassion and appreciation.

[@jimdartouzos2127]

At some point in May's Amazing solo...I could have sworn I seen sparks coming off of the fretboard. ...Fucking Excellent.

[@bvovidz]

What an incredible jam. My first time hearing this song. Amazing.

[@TheBent139]

Amazing that no matter what video it is there are always those that look for the negative. Love the job Wakeman does toward the end. No one can play the MiniMoog like that. He just knows that piece of equipment like no one else. You won't be seeing this stuff forever. Enjoy it while it lasts!

[@davidfarrall]

Always liked the Wurm sequence. This is the best collaboration and version I’ve heard.

[@beekay5914]

Brilliant playing by Brian. I hope that Steve Howe saw this and liked it. I am a gigantic Yes fan, and I think that Wurm is one of their best compositions.

[@joefincham9759]

Player/Composer Steve Howe is vastly underrated/unappreciated. Great jamming by the Wakeman kid and Les Paul guitarist...still the old school dudes were able to take the piece to another level. I put the Steve Howe voicing of the chords on my looper and could literally shred over it all night!

[@ruthierochesterNY]

Simply incredible! I know no words to express how great this clip was. WOW

[@arielsinardi2626]

Cuánto talento sobre sólo 3 tonos !!!! Grandioso.... piel de gallina

[@kandyno]

My God...how amazing is Rick Wakeman?

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Brian May's sound will never, ever be superseded. Best and most unique sound I've heard.

[@CoachingChaos]

He's unique - we say that a lot about artists, but it's so true with him. And that Red Special guitar - designed and built by May when he was a teenager - makes a big difference as well! R.I.P. Freddie, Peter, and Chris.

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

A brilliant jam session. I thought the first guitarist was excellent, May was excellent too.

[@kiawra9]

And Mr. Rick Wakeman still rocking a cape all these years later. Well done all.

[@pauldavies1710]

Great cover and great stuff by Brian May. It is interstate in that it demonstrates that Steve's guitar playing is unique and you couldn't just replace him and retain that Yes feel even with a bloody marvellous guitarist like Brian. You end up with a different sound and a different band - still brilliant mind you. However, as a dyed in the wool Yes fan Steve's guitar does it for me every time. Thanks for sharing - loved it.

[@TheMaurobala]

God! “Just a regular jam session” one has said. Invite me to the next one, please!

[@Nilesong1]

Just a great bunch of musicians having a good time riffing on a great song. Lovely.

[@mister_chaddy]

That was absolutey outstanding.

[@bradders56]

Absolutely excellent.Still playing my original copy of 'The Yes album' on vinyl.Saw Joe Bonamassa and his band perform Starship Trooper at a gig many years ago and they nailed it too.

[@kentmains7763]

Joe does an outstanding job with it.

[@longdark4ever]

LOL that drummer is like "I can't believe I am on stage with Brian May!"

[@daveversion2.2]

Just had to watch this again. Love Yes and this is one of my favs……but Brian May sets it afire!

[@keithmilburn4866]

Yes are one of my fav bands of all time, the ‘Yes Album ‘ a true masterpiece

[@morbidmanmusic]

To bad this isn't really yes... how do you feel about cover bands playing yes?

[@davidmuir7711]

A fine jam. A good time was had by all, and the song was done justice.

[@11thearlofwigan]

Fantastic version ... what a performance

[@edwhite7475]

if you wear a cape on stage you BETTER be a bad ass- ;-)

[@billhart9832]

Bravo! God bless the extravagance and virtuosity of Prog Rock!

[@mrmike73]

Simply amazing to watch and such a treat to see all that talent in one place. Thank you for the share.

[@ImDownWiddat]

This clip blows my mind every time I come back to it. It's an 11 minute jam that carry's you off into the clouds. That first guitar solo, he was channeling Howe. Amazing.

[@ziggy979]

Thank you for your insightful words here. Yes was a progressive band extraordinaire. The musical works of the members were of epic proportions, unique in the rock world at that time. The cover album art was at par with what you were listening to. I had the luck of seeing Yes multiple times. Always came away as a elevated being. They are that good. Wakeman, Howe, Anderson, White, and Squire. This is the line up of the Gods. Bless Yes and bless all of us who still listen with that ear yearning for more music and more knowledge of a bigger world than we can see. Z.

[@mikeanglada742]

I just want to Reach the Level where I Can Wear a Cape with Complete Confidence!!! :D

[@UKMikey]

A cape's just the thing if one wants to smuggle a curry up on stage to eat during the longer numbers.

[@StefanoPapaleo-TS]

So... who's it gonna be? Rick or Batman?:)))

[@fieldingmellish6856]

Write and perform an iconic riff like @9:52 ... then you can suit up !

[@carmenwillman4183]

Takes many years Grasshopper.

[@paulkcormier]

BRILLIANT COMMENT

[@reschtamas]

I'm a Queen and Yes fan. I'ts heavenly, thanks for the upload!

[@merlinzipp]

One of the greatest jams of all time.

[@jamiepastman5594]

you need to get out more

[@aquilarossa5191]

Rick at the end. So awesome. No wonder the crowd got to their feet. Stuff on keyboards we guitar players get envious of, especially we who lean on pentatonics a lot.

[@laurenceellis8311]

That was bloody marvelous...thanks for making this a great day to have ears...👍

[@julianash4663]

Incredible what a sound to behold

[@kengodwin3879]

Wow! The old guys kill it! Yeah, the first solo is technically very proficient, but Brian's has that undeniable soul and seasoning. Amazing

[@lifeson90]

is like this song was written.. for Brian May to eventually show how cool a guitarist he actually was

[@chipcheney8158]

Blown away! Two of the greatest together.

[@DenisPetrov1980]

A touch of Queen soul to the music of Yes... Brilliant!

[@nortski78]

That's the best I've heard Brian play for a long time. Normally, in his later years, his playing has been so wooden but this was great.

[@sbearly]

A lot of talent on that stage. And Wurm is a great chord progression to play over.

[@aldito7586]

Yeah! But what about Butch?

[@frack4oil16]

Damn. This is still perhaps the best improvised version they ever made.

[@sammyvh11]

Another decade or so and this music is gone. But so will I.........Bravo!

[@mstewart109]

No.it has been around since it as start. But now on platforms like utube. I know - i was around during their beginning ..

[@flyertordo]

Fantastic!. Amazing!. Untouched talents of the best of Symphonic Rock.

[@spidergoalie33]

Too bad the director didn't know Adam Wakeman was doing the first keyboard solo.

[@TheOrganiston9th]

RIGHT?? I kept hoping they’d pan over (or whatever) to Adam... I think he’s great!

[@CHRISFREEMAY]

Brian May and his unique style of play guitar. I love the sound of the Red Special!!

[@stepitupandgo67]

Fuck it...I'm gonna start wearing a cape live...if it's good enough for rick it's good enough for me!!! haha

[@lyndonreddick1888]

First time I saw Rick was my first concert, Yes! 74'

[@HarHah]

Saw them all in 75

[@barryasmith4114]

Then through the Yellow haze comes Brian May. Wow absolutely fantastic, loved every second...

[@mirrortime]

Brian May's solo is so perfect.

[@nickgreen4731]

7:21 Brian: Hey Rick! Any idea how we stop this thing? Rick: No idea, Brian. Just keep going and maybe they'll turn off the power at midnight.

[@F21012013R]

I see a bunch off guys who are heaving a great time together on stage playing a Yessong!

[@Marctull66]

Two of my musical heroes (who evolved in quite different musical worlds) playing together, this is great !

[@pc7135]

This is an excellent jam! The gent playing the Les Paul is impressive. Brian May is clearly enjoying himself and sounds excellent as well...Bravo