Earlier this month, Adam Wakeman took a bow at the final Black Sabbath show at Birmingham's Genting Arena when the rock originators played their last show as a touring entity.
Adam has been the keyboardist with Sabbath, and Ozzy, for a long time, and it was a poignant night, for fans and band alike: "The final Sabbath show was amazing - a real emotional rollercoaster," Adam told Total MK.
"I've been lucky enough to be involved for 13 of their 49 years together so I can only imagine what it was like for them!"
Next weekend (Sun, Feb 26), Adam, son of keyboard ace Rick, will be showcasing his own style with a date at The Stables, with musical collaborator and Headspace frontman Damian Wilson.
"I'm so pleased that Damian and I could find time to put a run of shows together - It's always great playing on stage with Damian and by playing an acoustic set, it makes it feel really up close and personal...."
Ahead of the show, Adam delved into his personal soundscape and shared the music and artists that have inspired and shaped him...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
'Ernie, the fastest milkman in the west' by Benny Hill. It was on the first album I ever owned, aged about six.
I played it constantly, along with the other tracks on the compilation album. Soon after, the first album I actually bought, was Rocking All Over The World, by Status Quo.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
A mix of the both. Nowadays, the balance probably swings more digital by about 70/30 but purely because I'm away so much and in hotels and airports with little time to shop!
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
I watched my father on stage at Wembley Arena with one of the incarnations of YES - I think it was the ABWH tour, and I was around 10 years old.
I remember clearly thinking - That's what I want to do. Before then, I wasn't sure about my future plans (what 10 year old is...?!) but it was a toss up between being a Greenpeace Protester, a Policeman or Musician.
Fortunately, musician won...(I never really liked boats so the Rainbow Warrior was never really an option, although I am still a supporter of Greenpeace)
Your best on stage memory...
Probably Live 8, on the 2nd July 2005 with Travis. Apart from it being the most people that I've played to (a total global TV audience of 2 Billion people watched the Live 8 concerts!) I hadn't played with Travis for a year and was in Europe on tour with Black Sabbath at the time, so I had to fly in on the day back to London.
I walk on stage to around 300,000 people and the first thing that happened was the keyboard stand broke and I had to play the first song holding the keyboard stand up with one hand.
And the worst gig you've ever done
That's probably a question for the audience members...! I've enjoyed every show, even when things go wrong.
Some aren't as good as others, but my dad taught me from a young age to treat every gig the same - whether you are playing to 10 people or 100,000.
That lesson has stuck with me.
What made you take up the keyboards?
My dad was, and is still, my biggest inspiration. In addition to him, John Lord was one of the reasons I always wanted a Hammond Organ.
I bought and renovated one a few years ago when I joined the band Snakecharmer with some of the original members of Whitesnake.
I love playing it and as long as I don't have to lift it, it will remain my favourite bit of vintage gear I own!
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written?
'Always a Woman To Me' by Billy Joel. I've always loved that song and whenever I play it, in the back of my mind,
I think I wish I'd written it.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
'In Hell's Name' which I co-wrote with members of my band Headspace on our 2012 album 'I Am Anonymous'.
We're a progressive rock band and that song has many reasons for being close to my heart. We recorded the Stowe School Choir on that track as well, which was important as I have lived around this area for a while and it was nice to include a local choir on the album.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
I am a huge fan of guitar players - probably Stevie Ray Vaughan and Slash being my favourite. I've got to know Slash quite well over the last few years and played a lot of shows with him but I'd still love to know what it's like to be him, especially through the Guns n Roses years.
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to
Every piece of music I hear has some form of influence to me , whether it's something I like or not. I am still fascinated by the progression of production techniques and styles, and how writing styles change through the decades. I love the way that bands such as Imagine Dragons can co-write a song like Radioactive with a producer like Alex Da Kid, and make a beautiful sounding indie rock song that appeals to everyone.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
No, I enjoy any music I listen to - some things I enjoy more than others, but if someone has created music to be heard, then it deserves an ear!
To book your seat for The Stables date click here
