{"product_id":"rick-wakeman-return-to-the-red-planet","title":"Rick Wakeman - Return To The Red Planet","description":"\u003cp\u003eTHE EPIC RETURN TO MARS FROM \u003cstrong\u003eRick Wakeman\u003c\/strong\u003e. A new progressive rock suite inspired by both the past \u0026amp; the latest discoveries on the Red Planet, featuring \u003cstrong\u003eLee Pomeroy\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eDave Colquhoun\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eAdam Falkner\u003c\/strong\u003e \u0026amp; \u003cstrong\u003eMollie Marriott\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing his acclaimed 2020 album \u003cem\u003eThe Red Planet\u003c\/em\u003e, Rick Wakeman makes a triumphant \u0026amp; inevitable return to Mars with \u003cem\u003eReturn To The Red Planet\u003c\/em\u003e, a sweeping new progressive work that fuses science, imagination \u0026amp; musical virtuosity into one of the most ambitious recordings of his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a time when space exploration has moved back to the forefront of human endeavour—with missions to the Moon, Mars \u0026amp; beyond once again capturing the world's imagination—\u003cem\u003eReturn To The Red Planet\u003c\/em\u003e feels both timely \u0026amp; visionary, rekindling the cosmic spirit that helped define progressive rock's golden age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere its predecessor opened the story, this album explores the planet's ancient lakes, vast canyon systems, shifting dust storms \u0026amp; geological epochs, drawing directly on the remarkable images \u0026amp; research that have transformed our understanding of Mars in recent years, Wakeman immersing himself in planetary research, data \u0026amp; mission reports before a single note was written.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Once I started looking at the new data \u0026amp; photographs, I realised there was an entirely new album waiting to be written. There was simply too much more to say about Mars—musically \u0026amp; spiritually—not to return.\"\u003c\/em\u003e — Rick Wakeman\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded between August 2025 \u0026amp; January 2026, the project also marks a welcome return to full band recording, with all musicians working together at Decoy Studios—a creative approach Wakeman considers essential to capturing the spontaneity \u0026amp; energy of progressive rock at its best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album is performed by Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble, featuring bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner \u0026amp; vocalist Mollie Marriott, daughter of legendary \u003cstrong\u003eSteve Marriott\u003c\/strong\u003e. The album was mastered by renowned engineer Simon Heyworth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"This isn't just another Rick Wakeman album. It's a bloody good one!\"\u003c\/em\u003e — Simon Heyworth, producer of \u003cem\u003eTubular Bells\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the album's centrepieces is \u003cem\u003eBowie's Vision\u003c\/em\u003e, a deeply personal homage to Wakeman's friend \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose fascination with Mars helped shape popular culture's image of the planet. The connection is more than thematic: Wakeman performed the iconic piano on Bowie's \u003cem\u003eLife on Mars?\u003c\/em\u003e, making this tribute both musical \u0026amp; autobiographical—a reflection on a shared history, a lasting friendship \u0026amp; one of rock's most celebrated recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe music was initially composed as keyboard \"templates\" at Nursery Studios before being expanded collaboratively by the band at Decoy Studios \u0026amp; engineered by Toby Wood. Final overdubs \u0026amp; mixing with producer\/engineer Erik Jordan bring the vision into sharp focus, from sweeping symphonic passages to intricate rhythmic sequences \u0026amp; haunting choral textures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWakeman needs little introduction. A central figure during his many years with \u003cstrong\u003eYes\u003c\/strong\u003e, he is also one of the most successful solo artists in progressive rock history, with a catalogue of over one hundred albums \u0026amp; global sales in the tens of millions. His career as a session musician includes landmark recordings with David Bowie, \u003cstrong\u003eElton John\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eCat Stevens\u003c\/strong\u003e \u0026amp; many more, establishing him as one of the most distinctive keyboard voices of his generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2-disc edition of \u003cem\u003eReturn To The Red Planet\u003c\/em\u003e includes the \u003cem\u003eReturn To The Red Planet\u003c\/em\u003e studio album on CD and a Blu-ray featuring Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound \u0026amp; Hi-Res Stereo mixes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"An astonishing return to form... Wakeman at his most imaginative\" - Prog Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A richly detailed symphonic rock journey\" -  Classic Rock\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MADFISH","offers":[{"title":"Indie Exclusive Crystal Clear Vinyl 2LP","offer_id":58604065620313,"sku":"SDZ-48948","price":54.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black Vinyl 2LP","offer_id":58604065653081,"sku":"SDZ-48949","price":45.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":58604065685849,"sku":"SDZ-48950","price":16.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD\/Blu-Ray Edition","offer_id":58604065718617,"sku":"SDZ-48951","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/rw-clear.png?v=1784219284","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/rick-wakeman-return-to-the-red-planet","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}