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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Unreferenced|date=November 2009}}
{{One source|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Wizzo Band
|name = Wizzo Band
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|caption =
|caption =
|background = group_or_band
|background = group_or_band
|origin = [[Birmingham]], [[Warwickshire]], [[England]], UK
|origin = [[Birmingham]], [[Warwickshire]], England
|instrument =
|instrument =
|genre = [[Jazz_fusion#Jazz_rock|Jazz rock]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[progressive rock]]
|genre = [[Jazz]]
|years_active = 1975–78
|years_active = 1975–1978
|label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
|label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
|associated_acts = [[Electric Light Orchestra]], [[The Move]], [[Wizzard]]
|associated_acts = [[Electric Light Orchestra]], [[The Move]], [[Wizzard]]
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|past_members = [[Roy Wood]]<br>[[Rick Price (bassist)|Rick Price]]<br>Bob Wilson<br>Billy Paul<br>Paul Robbins<br>Graham Gallery<br>Dave Donovan
|past_members = [[Roy Wood]]<br>[[Rick Price (bassist)|Rick Price]]<br>Bob Wilson<br>Billy Paul<br>Paul Robbins<br>Graham Gallery<br>Dave Donovan
}}
}}

'''Wizzo Band''' was formed by [[Roy Wood]] after [[Wizzard]] split in 1975, fulfilling his ambitions to create an ensemble that was more [[jazz]]-orientated than [[rock music|rock]] or [[popular music|pop]]. The line-up included former Wizzard and [[The Move|Move]] member [[Rick Price (bassist)|Rick Price]] ([[pedal steel guitar]]), alongside Bob Wilson ([[trombone]]), Billy Paul ([[alto saxophone|alto]] and [[baritone saxophone|baritone saxes]]), Paul Robbins ([[keyboard instrument|keyboard]]s, [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]]), Graham Gallery ([[bass guitar|bass]]), and Dave Donovan ([[drum]]s).<blockquote>A lot of people had been doing jazz-rock stuff. There had been jazz [[musician]]s getting into the rock field, like [[Chick Corea]] and [[Stanley Clarke]], but it's very rare that you find a band doing it the other way around a [[rock and roll]] [[band (music)|band]] getting into jazz, and it's quite interesting. The [[rhythm section]] is very heavy, almost [[Led Zeppelin|Zeppelinish]], the [[horn section|horns]] are very jazzy and the songs are very commercial, so it makes for quite an interesting combination.
'''Wizzo Band''' were an English [[Jazz_fusion#Jazz_rock|jazz rock]] band formed by [[Roy Wood]] after [[Wizzard]] split in 1975, fulfilling his ambitions to create an ensemble that was more [[jazz]]-orientated than [[rock music|rock]] or [[popular music|pop]]. The line-up included former Wizzard and [[The Move|Move]] member [[Rick Price (bassist)|Rick Price]] ([[pedal steel guitar]]), alongside Bob Wilson ([[trombone]]), Billy Paul ([[alto saxophone|alto]] and [[baritone saxophone|baritone saxes]]), Paul Robbins ([[keyboard instrument|keyboard]]s, [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]]), Graham Gallery ([[bass guitar|bass]]), and Dave Donovan ([[drum]]s).<ref name="AMG">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/super-active-wizzo-mw0000780059/credits|title=Super Active Wizzo - Roy Wood, Roy Wood Wizzo Band &#124; Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>
<blockquote>A lot of people had been doing jazz-rock stuff. There had been jazz [[musician]]s getting into the rock field, like [[Chick Corea]] and [[Stanley Clarke]], but it's very rare that you find a band doing it the other way around a [[rock and roll]] [[band (music)|band]] getting into jazz, and it's quite interesting. The [[rhythm section]] is very heavy, almost [[Led Zeppelin|Zeppelinish]], the [[horn section|horns]] are very jazzy and the songs are very commercial, so it makes for quite an interesting combination.
: - Roy Wood, ''[[Melody Maker]]'', 3 September 1977</blockquote>
: - Roy Wood, ''[[Melody Maker]]'', 3 September 1977</blockquote>


They played one show, broadcast live by [[BBC Television]] and [[BBC Radio 1]] in the ''[[Sight and Sound In Concert]]'' series, on 2 April 1977. Most of the material they played was new, though they also included [[The Move]]'s "[[California Man (song)|California Man]]", interpolating the basic riff from another Move oldie, "[[Brontosaurus (Move song)|Brontosaurus]]", and Wizzard's "[[Are You Ready to Rock]]". Several of the songs appeared on their only album ''[[Super Active Wizzo]]'', released in September 1977 on the [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] [[record label]]. They also issued two [[single (music)|singles]], "The Stroll" (1977), and "Dancin' At The Rainbow’s End" (1978). None of these ever [[record chart|charted]].
They played one show, broadcast live by [[BBC Television]] and [[BBC Radio 1]] in the ''[[Sight and Sound in Concert]]'' series, on 2 April 1977. Most of the material they played was new, though they also included [[The Move]]'s "[[California Man (song)|California Man]]", interpolating the basic riff from another Move oldie, "[[Brontosaurus (Move song)|Brontosaurus]]", and Wizzard's "[[Are You Ready to Rock]]". Several of the songs appeared on their only album ''[[Super Active Wizzo]]'', released in September 1977 on the [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] [[record label]].<ref name="AMG"/> They also issued two [[single (music)|singles]], "The Stroll" (1977), and "Dancin' At The Rainbow’s End" (1978). None of the recordings [[record chart|charted]].


A [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[concert tour|tour]] was scheduled for spring 1978, but was cancelled as they disbanded at around the same time. Wizzo Band had proved an uncommercial venture; the [[Gramophone record|records]] received unenthusiastic reviews from [[music critic|critic]]s who were baffled by the music, especially in the light of Wood's earlier track record as a creator of [[hit record]]s with his previous bands, and they were ignored by radio programmers.
A [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[concert tour|tour]] was scheduled for spring 1978, but was cancelled as they disbanded at around the same time. Wizzo Band had proved an uncommercial venture; the [[Gramophone record|records]] received unenthusiastic reviews from [[music critic|critic]]s who were baffled by the music,<ref name="AMG"/> especially in the light of Wood's earlier track record as a creator of [[hit record]]s with his previous bands, and they were ignored by radio programmers.


The live version of "California Man" was issued as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of Wood's 1982 single "O.T.T.", under the title "Mystery Song". A similar arrangement was used by [[Cheap Trick]] in their own [[cover version]] of the song.
The live version of "California Man" was issued as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of Wood's 1982 single "O.T.T.", under the title "Mystery Song". A similar arrangement was used by [[Cheap Trick]] in their own [[cover version]] of the song.


==Discography==
==Discography==
==Albums==
*''[[Super Active Wizzo]]'' (1977)
*''[[Super Active Wizzo]]'' (1977)

⚫
*"The Stroll"/"Jubilee" (1977) - single
===Singles===
⚫
*"Dancin' At The Rainbow's End"/"Waitin' At This Door" (1978) - single
⚫
*"The Stroll" / "Jubilee" (1977)
⚫
*"Dancin' At The Rainbow's End" / "Waitin' At This Door" (1978)

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jivebaby/biography2_frame.html Official Roy Wood web site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070515142854/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jivebaby/biography2_frame.html Official Roy Wood web site]
* [http://www.releaseroy.com Campaign to get Wizzo album released on CD]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929230600/http://www.releaseroy.com/ Campaign to get Wizzo album released on CD]

{{Roy Wood}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wizzo Band}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wizzo Band}}
[[Category:English rock music groups]]
[[Category:English jazz-rock groups]]

Latest revision as of 20:18, 30 December 2024

Wizzo Band
OriginBirmingham, Warwickshire, England
GenresJazz rock, rock, progressive rock
Years active1975–1978
LabelsWarner Bros.
Past membersRoy Wood
Rick Price
Bob Wilson
Billy Paul
Paul Robbins
Graham Gallery
Dave Donovan

Wizzo Band were an English jazz rock band formed by Roy Wood after Wizzard split in 1975, fulfilling his ambitions to create an ensemble that was more jazz-orientated than rock or pop. The line-up included former Wizzard and Move member Rick Price (pedal steel guitar), alongside Bob Wilson (trombone), Billy Paul (alto and baritone saxes), Paul Robbins (keyboards, backing vocals), Graham Gallery (bass), and Dave Donovan (drums).[1]

A lot of people had been doing jazz-rock stuff. There had been jazz musicians getting into the rock field, like Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke, but it's very rare that you find a band doing it the other way around a rock and roll band getting into jazz, and it's quite interesting. The rhythm section is very heavy, almost Zeppelinish, the horns are very jazzy and the songs are very commercial, so it makes for quite an interesting combination.

- Roy Wood, Melody Maker, 3 September 1977

They played one show, broadcast live by BBC Television and BBC Radio 1 in the Sight and Sound in Concert series, on 2 April 1977. Most of the material they played was new, though they also included The Move's "California Man", interpolating the basic riff from another Move oldie, "Brontosaurus", and Wizzard's "Are You Ready to Rock". Several of the songs appeared on their only album Super Active Wizzo, released in September 1977 on the Warner Bros. record label.[1] They also issued two singles, "The Stroll" (1977), and "Dancin' At The Rainbow’s End" (1978). None of the recordings charted.

A UK tour was scheduled for spring 1978, but was cancelled as they disbanded at around the same time. Wizzo Band had proved an uncommercial venture; the records received unenthusiastic reviews from critics who were baffled by the music,[1] especially in the light of Wood's earlier track record as a creator of hit records with his previous bands, and they were ignored by radio programmers.

The live version of "California Man" was issued as the B-side of Wood's 1982 single "O.T.T.", under the title "Mystery Song". A similar arrangement was used by Cheap Trick in their own cover version of the song.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
  • "The Stroll" / "Jubilee" (1977)
  • "Dancin' At The Rainbow's End" / "Waitin' At This Door" (1978)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Super Active Wizzo - Roy Wood, Roy Wood Wizzo Band | Credits". AllMusic.
[edit]
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