📰 They Must Be Mad – Article: Feb. 1974

A one‑page Disc feature profiling Roy Wood after being voted Top Musician of the Year.

A candid, funny, and revealing interview with Roy Wood at the height of Wizzard’s success, exploring his self‑taught approach to music, his expanding creative projects, and the whirlwind of ideas driving him into 1974.

📰 Key Highlights

• Roy Wood voted Top Musician of the Year in the Disc Music Poll Awards

• Self‑effacing reflections on musicianship and songwriting

• Details on new Wizzard lineup and upcoming releases

• Mentions the single “Rock and Roll Winter” and the album Introducing Eddy and the Falcons

• Reveals plans for a solo album, film, and musical

• Captures Wood’s humour, ambition, and creative drive

📰 Overview

Published on February 16, 1974, this Disc magazine feature captures Roy Wood immediately after winning the Disc Music Poll Award for Top Musician of the Year. Written by Rosemary Horide, the article blends humour, humility, and insight into Wood’s creative process, his work with Wizzard, and his ambitious plans for the year ahead.

📰 Source Details

Publication: Disc

Date: February 16, 1974

Issue: One‑page article

Provenance Notes: Poll‑award feature and interview with Roy Wood by Rosemary Horide.

📰 The Story

The article opens with Roy Wood’s typically modest reaction to being named Top Musician of the Year: “They must be mad!” he laughs, brushing off the accolade with the same self‑effacing charm that defined his public persona. Despite arranging for brass, strings, and woodwind, Wood insists he doesn’t consider himself a musician at all. “I don’t read music… I just play by ear,” he says, adding that he doesn’t even know the names of the chords he uses.

Horide points out the contradiction: Wood may deny being a musician, but he is the architect of Wizzard’s sound — writing, arranging, producing, and shaping the group’s elaborate, technicolour pop. Wood acknowledges this dynamic with characteristic humility: “I fall back on the others in Wizzard, and they fall back on me.”

At the time of the interview, Wizzard were rehearsing a new lineup featuring female vocalists, with Wood writing and arranging material specifically for their voices. He previews the upcoming single “Rock and Roll Winter”, calling it catchy and upbeat, and discusses the soon‑to‑be‑released concept album Introducing Eddy and the Falcons, which he describes as a long‑gestating project he’s proud of.

Wood also reveals a flurry of future plans: a more serious solo album, a film idea, and even a stage musical based on his songs. Yet he stresses he has no intention of leaving Wizzard: “There’s very little chance of me going solo. I like working with the group.”

The article closes with Wood reflecting on the year ahead — optimistic, grateful to fans, and eager to keep creating. His final sentiment captures the tone of the piece: “I want to make good music and entertain people. I think that’s the most important thing.”

📰 Visual Archive

Roy Wood interviewed in Disc, February 16, 1974, after being voted Top Musician of the Year.

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📰 Closing Notes

This feature captures Roy Wood at a moment of peak creativity — juggling Wizzard, new projects, and ambitious artistic plans, all while maintaining his trademark humour and humility. A vivid snapshot of one of glam pop’s most inventive figures.

#RoyWood #Wizzard #DiscMagazine #1974 #GlamRock #UKPress #MusicPollAwards

📰 Sources

• Disc magazine, February 16, 1974

• Contemporary Wizzard promotional materials

• Early 1974 Roy Wood press interviews

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