Wizzard

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

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 found himself at odds with co-leader Jeff Lynne, 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.

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, "Wizzard Brew" and "Introducing Eddy and the Falcons", 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.