RICK WAKEMAN ‘THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII’ ON DVD/BLU-RAY

On 5 October 2009, Eagle Rock Entertainment release “The Six Wives Of Henry VIII” simultaneously on DVD and Blu-ray [Cat No EREDV755 and ERBRD5036 respectively] and CD through Eagle Records [Cat No EAGCD406]. This is an eagerly anticipated release for Rick Wakeman fans – and is his first solo release on Blu-ray. The DVD and Blu-ray versions come packaged in a deluxe slipcase with a reproduction of the concert programme.

Rick Wakeman’s “The Six Wives Of Henry VIII” is one of the landmark albums of the seventies, a critical and commercial success that has sold in excess of 15 million copies worldwide. In May 2009, Rick Wakeman finally achieved his long held dream of performing the entire album live at Hampton Court Palace. It was the first time the whole album had ever been performed in concert and included the Henry VIII track “Defender Of The Faith,” that had to be cut from the original album for space reasons, plus new opening and closing pieces. The two spectacular sell out concerts were a never to be repeated event and this Blu-ray shows why they will live long the memory of all those fortunate enough to attend.

TRACKLISTING [DVD and Blu-ray]

1) Tudorture / Henry’s Fanfare 2) Tudorture / “1485” 3) Catherine Of Aragon (2009) 4) Kathryn Howard (2009) 5) Jane’s Prelude 6) Jane Seymour (2009) 7) Defender Of The Faith 8) Katherine Parr (2009) 9) Anne Of Cleves (2009) 10) Anne Boleyn (2009) 11) Tudorock

“The Six Wives Of Henry VIII” release features extended live performances of Rick Wakeman’s most popular album with the English Rock Ensemble accompanied by the Orchestra Europa and the English Chamber Choir with Brian Blessed as narrator. The release offers two hours of great entertainment and, as well as a behind the scenes feature with Rick, also offers additional new tracks premiered at the concert.

BILL BRUFORD AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Bill Bruford once called the godfather of progressive-rock drumming has been at the top of his profession for four decades, playing with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Earthworks, and many more. This is his memoir of life at the heart of prog rock, art rock, and modern jazz. It is an honest, entertaining, well-written account of life on the road and in the studio rubbing shoulders with the famous, the less famous, and the infamous, and creating an impressive tally of great music. A rock musician with the temperament of a classical musician who became a jazz musician, Bruford defies all the clichés about drummers. He says: You write what you have to write, you play what you have to play, because you can t sleep at night. If you can sleep at night, you shouldn t be doing this anyway. From time to time, at polite dinner parties, someone will ask Bill what he does. He replies that he is a musician. “Yes, but what do you really do?” retorts the enquirer. This unusual, funny, and insightful music memoir answers the question.

Bill Bruford’s professional musical career began in 1968. He was a guiding light in the British Art Rock movement, recording and touring internationally with Yes and King Crimson from 1968-74. Since then he has worked with many other artists, including Gong, National Health, Genesis and U.K., as well as leading his own bands Bruford and Earthworks.