Wizzard shot to fame with their single I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (Image: YouTube)
Former Wizzard frontman Roy Wood has revealed the real reason why the rocker no longer tours after lockdown.
The Birmingham rocker – who has teamed up with Spa for their SPARaoke this – first rose to fame in 1970 when he formed the Electric Light Orchestra.
But it’s fair to say he cemented himself in pop history with Wizzard’s 1973 hit I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday. The festive favourite was unfortunately pipped to the number one spot by rock rivals Slade with their hit track Merry Xmas Everybody.
Despite this, the single has remained in the top 20 of the Christmas charts for decades, alongside the likes of Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby and Wham!
Although the 78-year-old singer left Wizzard in the late 70s, the musician went on to form his own band, The Roy Wood Rock and Roll Band, which toured the country until the global pandemic struck in 2020.
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Former frontman Roy Wood has revealed why he doesn’t tour anymore (Image: TV Times/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Now, the doting dad has opened up about the real reason why he stopped touring with his group and the impact the national lockdown had on his life.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, he told us: “I live alone, so the thing started to get on my nerves after a while. I hated not being able to get out and do anything, you know? It must have happened to a lot of people.
“I don’t tour anymore now. I haven’t toured since the thing because the theatres closed down. Me and my group, it’s called the Roy Wood Rock and Roll band, every Christmas we always did a tour.
“And then the that Christmas [of 2020] I said, ‘Oh, we’re gonna have to postpone it because of the theatres closing. And this happened for three years in a row.
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The musician has teased new music in the new year (Image: Birmingham Mail)
“And then the fourth year came along and they [his agents] said, ‘Shall we put some dates in for you?’ and I thought, ‘I’ve had it. I’ve done enough’.”
It was at this point that the chart-topper revealed the main thing he missed during was seeing his bandmates every week.
He went on: “I’ve done it all my life and the only thing I miss about it are the people in the band because they’re my friends, you know? But apart from that, all that organising everything, I mean, it’s what the audience don’t really see.”
Despite no longer touring with the band, Roy has teased fans about some new music coming up in the new year. He teased: “I will be working on some new stuff in the New Year.
“I haven’t been in the studio for a while, but I went in the other week and looked through the old folders and I found that I’ve got enough unfinished songs that nobody’s heard before to do an album. So I’m gonna stop being lazy and get in there and have and and do something.”
He teamed up with SPAR for their Christmas SPARaoke (Image: SPAR)
It comes after the California Man hitmaker partnered with the beloved superstore, Spar for their SPARaoke campaign. The Christmas SPARaoke invites customers to take part in an in-store karaoke competition to win bragging rights and prizes.
Speaking about the festive campaign, Roy gushed: “It’s a real pleasure to work with SPAR on this campaign. I wrote this song with the intent of bringing joy to people at Christmas time.
“The track is now over 50 years old but is still a big deal at Christmas. I just loved the idea that we could turn the everyday shopping experience into something a little more joyful.”