Wizzard
From Freepedia
- Wizzard is also emblazened on the brim of the hat of Rincewind, a failed wizard in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of books.
Wizzard was a Birmingham band formed by Roy Wood, former member and founders of bands The Move and Electric Light Orchestra. Not long after the release of Electric Light Orchestra's first album, Wood decided he wanted to head off in a different musical direction and left, taking band members Bill Hunt (keyboards) and Hugh McDowell (cello) with him, to found Wizzard. Also in the line-up were former Move bassist Rick Price, drummers Charlie Grima and Keith Smart, and saxophone players Mike Burney and Nick Pentelow. Hunt was later replaced by Bob Brady.
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Biography
The band made their live debut at a Rock'n'Roll Festival at Wembley in August 1972, followed by an appearance at the Reading Festival later that month. With Wood's distinctive warpaint make-up and colourful costume, they were one of the most pictesque groups in the British glam rock era. In January 1973 they scored their first Top 10 hit "Ball Park Incident". Although they released two albums, their biggest hit was with their second single "See My Baby Jive", Wood's faithful and affectionate tribute to the Phil Spector "Wall of Sound", which made No. 1 in the UK for four weeks. The follow-up, "Angel Fingers", also topped the charts.
At the time Wood was simultaneously exploring a solo career with the album "Boulders", which produced a Top 20 hit "Dear Elaine". The subsequent heavy working schedule and strain led to health problems and several cancelled or postponed live dates. A tour of the US later in 1974 failed to bring them any commercial success there, but some members guested on a Beach Boys session, which resulted in the release of the latter group's single "It's OK" in 1976. By this time they had split, in autumn 1975, leaving a third album which their record company did not release as it was deemed too uncommercial, and it was not released until 2000.
Wood and Price (who had switched to pedal steel guitar) then formed a less commercial, more jazz-orientated group, Wizzo Band, who played only one show, a simultaneous broadcast for BBC television and radio in 1977, followed by a poorly-received album, "Super Active Wizzo" later that year, before splitting early in 1978. Wood reverted to a solo career, in addition to producing records for other acts, notably a 1979 Top 10 cover version of "Duke of Earl" for British doo-wop revivalists Darts.
The band's 1973 Christmas single "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" has become something of an annual fixture on British radio and television (along with Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody").
Discography
Albums
- Wizzard Brew (1973 (#29 UK - co-engineered by Alan Parsons))
- Eddy & The Falcons (1974; #19 UK)
- Main Street (2000).
Singles
- Ball Park Incident (1972; #6 UK)
- See My Baby Jive (1973; #1 UK)
- Angel Fingers (1973; #1 UK)
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (1973; #4 UK)
- Rock'n'Roll Winter (1974; #6 UK)
- This Is The Story Of My Love (Baby) (1974; #34 UK)
- Are You Ready to Rock (1974; #8 UK); "Rattlesnake Roll" (1975)
- Indiana Rainbow (1976)
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (re-issue) (1984; #23 UK)
Wizzard is also the name of a "Black Heavy Metal" band from Finland. Their first demo I am the King hit in 1996, and their most well respected album is Songs of Sin and Decadence.
