AS soon as that first, unmistakable piano note is struck, most music lovers know exactly what follows.

It is, of course, David Bowie’s delicate vocals on the start of his groundbreaking 1971 track Life on Mars?

What many music lovers probably don’t know however, is Rick Wakeman’s hands were responsible for playing the song’s piano melody.

And now, some 40 years later, the musician is only just recognising how influential that, and other tracks he played on, have become.

“I suppose in recent years, for the first time, I think yeah, I have played on some seminal records like Space Oddity and Life on Mars?,” he muses, in a genuinely modest manner.

“You realise young people have taken those records to their hearts, and they are pieces of music that will be around way after I have gone.”

Of course, it wasn’t just Bowie who Rick played sessions for in the late Sixties and early Seventies. Lou Reed, Cat Stevens, Ozzy Osbourne, Cilla Black and Elton John all required the services of Rick’s nimble fingers.

Yet the musician is probably best known for his time in the bands Strawbs and Yes.

On Sunday, Rick comes to Westcliff’s Palace Theatre to perform some of those memorable tracks and share stories from his days in rock ’n’ roll.

“It’s me, a grand piano and a mic,” states the 61-year-old. “I have a pool of music I pick from. Some of it is the same each night, and some varies.

“It’s almost like every night is a first night, and I like to throw in a few surprises.”

Rick played keyboards with Sixties outfit Strawbs for just over a year, before leaving to join progressive rockers Yes, in 1971.

He was an on-off member for ten years, during the era the band produced their classic albums Fragile, Close to the Edge and Going for the One.

At the same time he recorded his own solo records, before finally leaving for good in 1980, to concentrate on his own music. Nevertheless, he still has fond memories of those times.

“I loved working with both bands,” says Rick. “Strawbs was great fun, and the best way I could describe Yes was world war three, but with everyone on the same side. Jon Anderson and I are still great friends.”

Since 1971, Rick has released about 140 solo albums, including 1974’s Number One record Journey to the Centre of the Earth, which he restages with full orchestras to this day.

He adds of his solo work: “When you are writing a piece of music you know instantly whether it will be good for a band or good for you.”

Part of Rick’s career can also be placed firmly into the hedonistic category.

The pianist was a heavy drinker, and would often play with a keg of beer beside his keyboards, before finally giving up in 1985 after being diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis.

“I didn’t just wear the T-shirt, I had a suit made out of it,” he says, rather cagily. My only saving grace was I kept away from any forms of drugs and that’s probably the only reason I’m here now.

“There are some ludicrous anecdotes in my show as nothing normal happens to me.”

These days, Rick’s life is much less wild. He plays about 20 one-off shows a year, presents a weekly Saturday morning radio programme on digital station Planet Rock and regularly appears on TV progamme‘s Grumpy Old Men and, yes, Countdown.

He says: “I don’t get to choose what to play on Planet Rock because they have a fixed programme of classic rock, but in between songs I say what I like.”

He adds, with a hint of smugness: “I get things off my chest and no one can answer back. I am grumpy. I think we all are deep down, but grumpy is funny.”

Rick does, however, still retain one of his outlandish rock star traits – an obsession with on-stage capes.

“I have got about eight, which were hand-made for me,” he says.

“Believe it or not they are in a secure storage unit behind heavy lock and key. They’re worth about £100,000.” An Evening with Rick Wakeman Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff. Sunday, May 23, 7.30pm. £26.50 01702 351135