Bjooks has announced of the latest episode of its PATCH & TWEAK Podcast. Hosted by music journalist Joe Silva, the podcast explores the vibrant world of synthesizers, modular gear, and the artists who bring these instruments to life.
The newest episode features none other than true icon: Rick Wakeman—keyboard virtuoso, prog-rock pioneer, and longtime innovator whose career spans more than five decades. Best known from his legendary work with Yes and David Bowie, to his solo albums and expansive live performances, Wakeman remains among the top influential figures in electronic and progressive music.
In this candid conversation, Wakeman takes listeners inside his journey with the Minimoog synthesizer and offers colorful, first-hand stories about his time on the road and in the studio. From unexpected onstage chaos in a Canadian hockey arena to a chance encounter with the late Dr. Bob Moog, Wakeman reflects on how electronic instruments shaped his sound—and, by extension, the evolution of modern music.
Rick Wakeman’s appearance on the PATCH & TWEAK Podcast is a must-listen for fans of progressive rock, electronic music history, and the ever-expanding world of synthesizers. The conversation provides a rare chance to hear directly from one of the genre’s most enduring and inventive artists.
Wakeman is not only known for his technical mastery and flamboyant live performances but also for pioneering the use of synthesizers at a time when the instruments were still mysterious to many musicians and audiences. His reflections underscore how far electronic music has come, while also shining a light on its roots. In the podcast, Wakeman recounts stories about:
- Battling rogue radio signals in a Canadian arena with Bob Moog
- Discovering the synthesizer through Wendy Carlos’ Switched-On Bach
- The first time he faced a Moog Modular
- Joining Yes and reshaping their sound with the Minimoog
- The time he introduced Bob Moog and Korg’s Tsutomu Katoh
- Why he believes the Minimoog remains unmatched
This episode is more than a trip down prog-rock memory lane. It’s a unique portrait of a musician whose relationship with synthesizers helped bring electronic instruments into the mainstream. Wakeman’s stories—equal parts funny, technical, and deeply human—shed light on how artists, engineers, and innovators like Bob Moog worked together to create the foundation of modern sound.
This episode embodies Bjooks’ mission: to capture, document, celebrate, and share the stories of music-making tools and the artists who use them. Just as PATCH & TWEAK and the broader Bjooks catalog highlight the intersection of design, sound, and creativity, the podcast brings these ideas to life in the artists’ own words through conversations that blend history, artistry, and technology.
The Rick Wakeman episode is available now to PATCH & TWEAK Club Pro members.
