Wednesday 28 July 2010

See My Baby Jive - Wizzard

An early post yesterday, means I have to return to last evening to complete the day. Andy had booked a table at The Bull's Head, Repton and on past experience I was already anticipating a great night. In company with his 2 lovely children (grown ups) Sarah, now an Arts Teacher, and Shaun who has just completed an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce Nuclear Division, and about to embark on a full time job there, we were able to sit in the garden for pre-dinner drinks.

Andy, Sarah, Moi and Shaun

In the sumptuous setting of the upper dining room, it is hard to believe you are in a 'pub' and along with impeccable service and even better food I have to recommend this to anyone who happens to pass that way.

After a fine dinner of among other things Cod's Tongues and Soft Shell Crab and Malbec wine, there was time for a little

'high jinx' before we returned to the bar for a night cap. It was thought that the evening couldn't have been better, when suddenly, with the arrival of 'rock legend' Roy Wood (The Move, Wizzard, Electric Light Orchestra etc), it was. Taking the time to say hello and a handshake all round this too brought back many memories of his career. Apart from the 'hits', his cheeky little offering 'Curley', complete with children's choir is one of my favourites, and I remember not being lucky enough to get tickets when he played Weymouth Rec (now Asda Supermarket) and stood outside the Fire Station listening from afar.

The Move circa 1969 - Rick Price, Roy Wood, Carl Wayne & Bev Bevan

and a little how he looked last night.

Roy Adrian Wood (born 8 November 1946, Kitts Green, Birmingham) is an English singer–songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.

Wood's first group in Birmingham in the early 1960s was The Falcons, which he left in 1963 to join Gerry Levene and the Avengers. He then moved to Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders (the band later became The Idle Race). During this period, Wood attended the Moseley College of Art, from which he was expelled in 1964. From this basis, and other Birmingham-based groups, was formed The Move, and they quickly entered the UK Singles Chart. Their single, "Night of Fear", climbed to #2 in early 1967. Their third hit, "Flowers in the Rain", helped launch BBC Radio 1 in 1967 and was the first record to be played on that station, and the band evolved over a three year period. After the departure of The Move's lead singer Carl Wayne, Wood's influence became more prominent. In 1967 Wood supplied backing vocals on the track, "You Got Me Floatin'", on The Jimi Hendrix Experience's album, Axis: Bold as Love.