YOU can take the man out of prog rock, but you can't take prog rock out of the man.

In recent years, former Yes keyboardist turned Seventies solo superstar Rick Wakeman has swapped the theatrical excesses of his infamous live shows for somewhat tamer performances as a regular guest on TV quiz Countdown.

His latest show, then, will come as a real treat for fans. Performing with his band The New English Rock Ensemble, his gig at The Anvil later this month comes in support of a new album, Out There, notable for a return to the full-on progressive style of the Seventies.

The 53-year-old left Yes in 1973 - although he has renewed his associations with the band recently with a major American tour - and briefly became one of the biggest names in music thanks to ambitious and highly experimental albums such as The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - famously staged on ice at Wembley's Empire Pool with a full orchestra and choir.

In the last 25 years, Wakeman has worked on a variety of projects, including film scores and a musical adaptation of George Orwell's 1984.

You can see Rick Wakeman and The New English Rock Ensemble at The Anvil, Basingstoke on Thursday April 24 at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £15. Box office: 01256 844244.