LEGENDARY keyboard player Rick Wakeman is set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his landmark concept album, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth.

The anniversary will see a state of the art, dramatic, live arena show of his classical-rock crossover work that reaches the BIC on May 3.

The show is not like a conventional rock concert and closer to Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds and Roger Waters’ touring production of Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

Rick Wakeman’s Journey To The Centre Of The Earth has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.

It sits alongside the most successful concept albums of the rock era alongside The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell.

Its release in 1974 was arguably the high watermark of the progressive rock genre, currently enjoying a well-documented revival, and hugely influential on the likes of Radiohead, Elbow and Muse.

The live arena show will present the narrative and music over a two-hour performance with interval.

Rick Wakeman will appear with his band (the English Rock Ensemble), Symphony Orchestra choir and narrators.

Wakeman has combined the original and new material with Return To The Centre Of The Earth, the epic sequel he recorded in 1999, thus creating an even more compelling story and spectacular show.

The new Journey To The Centre Of The Earth show will include state-of-the-art graphics and jaw-dropping visuals to be projected on huge screens and backdrops at the BIC.