Rick Wakeman Recalls Removing Salvador Dalí From Stage
The musician recounts the 1970 Paris concert incident where he nudged the artist off stage during a piano solo.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Magic
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In his autobiography The Wizard Of Prog, Rick Wakeman reveals that he once physically nudged Salvador Dalí off a stage during a 1970 concert in Paris. The musician intervened after Dalí wandered onto the performance area during a piano solo.
Why it matters
The incident serves as a surreal historical anecdote for fans of prog rock, illustrating a rare crossing of paths between a legendary musician and an iconic surrealist artist. It highlights the unexpected events that can occur during live musical performances.
Rick Wakeman is currently 77 years old and maintains an active career that includes performing for 150 rescued bears in Vietnam. These efforts support broader initiatives for the 125 bears still held in bile farms.
The players
Rick Wakeman
He is an English keyboardist, songwriter, and performer best known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes.
Salvador Dalí
He was a renowned Spanish surrealist painter celebrated for his technical skill and bizarre, striking imagery.
Dave Cousins
He is a musician and founding member of the band Strawbs who worked alongside Rick Wakeman during the early 1970s.
The details
Rick Wakeman was performing with the band Strawbs when Dalí appeared, leading the musician to take action to protect his piano solo. Bandmate Dave Cousins confirmed the identity of the intruder as the famous painter following the show.
Timeline
1970: Rick Wakeman kicked Salvador Dalí off stage in Paris.
1973: Release of The Six Wives Of Henry VIII.
1974: Release of Journey To The Centre Of The Earth.
1975: King Arthur On Ice show at Wembley.
September 2026: Free The Final Bears concert in Vietnam.
Industry Dynamics
This spontaneous 1970 interaction represents a sharp departure from the meticulously planned spectacles like the 1975 King Arthur On Ice show at Wembley. It highlights how unpredictable live performances were before the era of modern, high-production concert tours.
Fans can read the full account of this encounter in the recently published autobiography titled The Wizard Of Prog. Readers interested in Wakeman's current work can look for his concert appearances throughout the Canary Islands.
The takeaway
Even the most structured concert sets are susceptible to unscripted disruptions by unexpected guests. Keeping a performance focused is a challenge regardless of the audience or the intruder involved.
Further reading
Explore more bizarre and legendary performance tales on the Magic section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent.
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