GAS TANK - 1982 - 1983

The Gas Tank T.V. Program, originally aired on channel four in the U.K. between 1982 and 1983. Hosted by Rick Wakeman. The show featured a mixture of interviews with 1970’s musicians and impromptu performances, where the guest artists would join Rick and his house band in playing pre-arranged versions of their classic songs, or perhaps entirely new pieces created just for the show. The format was very informal with the setting being in a bar-room where Rick would interview the guest over a drink or two, followed by their performance, played right in front of a small studio audience, who were sitting in groups at tables. Rick Wakeman would frequently cite the Gas Tank Show as “the perfect opportunity for musicians from different bands to work together”.

The Only Problem Was:

It had such a limited viewing audience, that the program was unable to sell commercial time between musical segments. Where a commercial would normally be slotted, a blank / black screen came on for a few minutes, then the show resumed. It was a short series of about six programs. The presenter was Rick Wakeman from the progressive rock group “YES”.

Alvin Lee of Ten Years After was featured in at least half the shows that I have viewed on you tube. Along with Ric himself, were Eric Burdon, Tony Ashton, Chris Farlowe, Phil Lynott, Ian Paice, Steve Hackett, Andy Fair Weather Low and Godley and Crème, to name just a few in this short lived series. Alvin’s contributions were varied and in a different league all together. The general theme was vary basic. Gather up a group of mainly forgotten, rockers and players of the blues, passed over or forgotten by now. Cranking out tunes of yester-year – as a last ditch effort to fight off the rigor mortis that was musically causing their creative atrophy. Unable to move forward, they moved backwards in time and went for what they know how to do best.