Rick Wakeman Plays Piano for 150 Rescued Moon Bears in Vietnam

Rick Wakeman, the progressive rock veteran and former Yes keyboardist, has given a solo piano performance for 150 rescued moon bears at a sanctuary in Vietnam, according to a report from The Guardian and coverage on the story’s source site.

Why the bears are at the sanctuary

The Asiatic black bear, often called the moon bear, has long been exploited because its bile is used in some traditional Chinese medicines. Many of the animals have been kept captive in Vietnam and China, where bile has been extracted from them with needles. Vietnam has recently banned the practice, and the 150 rescued bears are now being rehabilitated at a sanctuary enclosure in Tam Dao national park.

A concert at the fence

Wakeman teamed up with the organization Animals Asia to draw attention to the bears’ situation. During a visit to the park, he played a Yamaha grand piano that had been placed right up against the fence where the bears were resting. The musician has sponsored rescued bears for years and is described as a firm believer in animal rights.

Speaking to The Guardian before the performance, Wakeman joked, “Before you ask, I won’t be playing ‘The Teddy Bear’s Picnic.'” Asked whether the bears would enjoy the music, he said they did not have much choice, adding that it is a well-known fact that all animals react to music, especially gentle melodic pieces. He said he planned to play melodic piano music and hoped the bears would come to the edge of the sanctuary and listen. “I hope they lay down and have a listen; that would make my day,” he said.

According to the source, that is what happened. Videos of the performance appear to show some of the bears responding to the music, with Wakeman visibly pleased by their reactions.

Music for pets at home

Wakeman also regularly plays for his rescued dogs and cats at his home in Suffolk. He told The Guardian that one cat used to jump on the grand piano and, if he stopped playing, would put a paw in the strings and rattle them until he resumed. He said his dogs will get up and leave if they dislike the music, and that his cats do not care for metal, grunge or rap. “They want a melody,” he said.

Wakeman is also known for describing a prostate exam during his induction speech at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as the source notes. Videos of the bear concert and The Guardian’s full report are available online.

Source: stereogum.com

Image: Tilly antoine / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)