Wizzard

Eccentric pop genius <a href="spotify:artist:52qIEkVQA2MzMZKtIEuWAf">Ulysses Adrian "Roy" Wood</a> developed <a href="spotify:artist:7jefIIksOi1EazgRTfW2Pk">the Electric Light Orchestra</a> out of <a href="spotify:artist:2BLpGstUHxDc6vHfBEiaXm">the Move</a>, a truly great British band in an era of great British bands. However, because of a rift with <a href="spotify:artist:3bTAaMx9nf237AkBnGw3vL">Jeff Lynne</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:52qIEkVQA2MzMZKtIEuWAf">Wood</a> left <a href="spotify:artist:7jefIIksOi1EazgRTfW2Pk">ELO</a> after the debut No Answer and created Wizzard, a bizarre octet who debuted at a 1972 Wembley Rock & Roll Festival and then captured the airwaves with "Ball Park Incident." Wizzard landed two chart-toppers overseas, "See My Baby Jive" and "Angel Fingers." Chaotic but always melodic, <a href="spotify:artist:52qIEkVQA2MzMZKtIEuWAf">Wood</a> built a unique Wall of Sound around these and other dandies like "Rock and Roll Winter" and perennial winner "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day." Wizzard even jabbed the ascending <a href="spotify:artist:7jefIIksOi1EazgRTfW2Pk">ELO</a> with "Bend Over Beethoven."

In the center of this insanity, <a href="spotify:artist:52qIEkVQA2MzMZKtIEuWAf">Wood</a> sported a multi-colored beard and mane, added a star to his forehead, and covered his face (perhaps inspiring fan <a href="spotify:artist:5W0GCoUUwU3SF6qpJanlug">Paul Stanley</a>) with warpaint, sprinkles, and innumerable other oddities. Wizzard seemed to maintain success only with singles, however, and the Introducing Eddie & the Falcons LP, a tribute to early rock icons like <a href="spotify:artist:3c8WoNjBfyLJhFObE6RHgs">Del Shannon</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5VAHm7V5mnsxvQrWw3KHmx">Gene Vincent</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2nvKpWcP8etYTq4JrRiUiy">Cliff Richard</a>, proved to be Wizzard's final work. Manager Don Arden enjoyed stadium success in the U.S., but Wizzard folded when management decided not to increase financing. <a href="spotify:artist:52qIEkVQA2MzMZKtIEuWAf">Wood</a> kept bassist <a href="spotify:artist:4SEHNCx7zGOlIKMCRuPL13">Rick Price</a> and saxophonist Mike Burney for the Wizzo Band, whose jazz-funk wafted beyond commercial confines for a lone effort, Super Active Wizzo. Wizzo expired in 1978. <a href="spotify:artist:52qIEkVQA2MzMZKtIEuWAf">Wood</a> continued his concurrent solo career and then basically dropped out of sight, reappearing periodically to perform with disciples <a href="spotify:artist:1LB8qB5BPb3MHQrfkvifXU">Cheap Trick</a>. Wizzard bassist <a href="spotify:artist:4SEHNCx7zGOlIKMCRuPL13">Rick Price</a> died on May 17, 2022 at the age of 77. ~ Doug Stone, Rovi