POP wizard Roy Wood was only 17 when he founded The Move, whose hit song, Flowers In The Rain, was the first record ever played on BBC Radio 1.

More than 50 golden years later, the musician is still top of his game and will be bringing his latest band incarnation, Roy Wood Rock & Roll Band, to Swindon next week on the Red E2 Rock Tour.

Roy’s first adventure into performing in public was with a big band at his sister’s wedding when he was just six. He played the drums. At 12 he went to see The Shadows and was entranced by Hank Marvin’s expertise, so he learned to play guitar.

Along with Flowers In The Rain, which reached No 2 in the UK charts, the songwriter had hits with Night Of Fear, Fire Brigade, I Can Hear The Grass Grow and a number one with Blackberry Way.

Later Roy teamed up with Jeff Lynne to form the Electric Light Orchestra, fusing classical and rock into their own unique style. For this project Roy taught himself the Chinese cello.

Wizard was born from an invitation to play at a Rock ‘n’ Roll extravaganza. Roy called up a bunch of Brummie buddies and formed the band that went on to record at Abbey Studios and have a string of hit singles including Ball Park Incident, See My Baby Jive and, of course, the annual festive hit I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

Recently Roy had a dream come true, being invited up on stage to play with his favourite band of all time, The Beach Boys, when they played in his home town of Birmingham.

“They actually learned Fire Brigade, and to hear those great harmonies coming through on my in-ear monitors was a total dream come true.

“They also invited me to stay onstage with them at the end to sing Fun Fun Fun.

“So for me it was a terrific evening all round, and what thoroughly nice people,” he said.

Roy was awarded the Degree of Honorary Doctor of Music in January 2008 from The University Of Derby, and had his own star on The Birmingham Walk Of Stars in 2010, along with being inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in New York.

The Roy Wood Rock & Roll Band will be going home for Christmas, performing in the Birmingham Symphony Hall for Rockmas with Paul Young but on Tuesday, October 10 they will be rocking the roof off the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £33.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk.