Rock legend Roy Wood tells Globe columnist Peter Grant about his forthcoming gig at the Wirral Guitar Festival...and why he wants to borrow Dr Who’s Tardis.

ROY Wood is going to start his birthday celebrations early when he comes to New Brighton on November 4.

Four days later the musician and founder member of such household names as The Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard is looking ahead to turning 70.

And he has this message for his fans in Wirral – a place he has fond memories of playing in his illustrious, multi-layered career: "Come and see me and my rocking band – it’s gonna be a good ’un."

This is said in his famous Brummie accent.

‘‘I will have four saxophone players with me, so there’s going to be some Little Richard meets Count Basie stuff going on.

‘‘I love playing Wirral, it is such a welcoming audience - they all pile into the hall and they are there for the music and the fun.

‘‘It doesn’t take long for them to get going unlike my home city of Birmingham.’’

So with such an astonishing legacy of hits - more than 20 in the charts, what can fans expect when his "Red E 2 Rock" tour arrives.

‘‘The hits of course and just some of my recent stuff.

"The slowest song is Blackberry Way which tells you the kind of rock and roll show we do.

"I won’t do any slow ones besides I would probably fall sleep. I would get bored.’’

Roy now gives the Globe an insight into some of his set-list.

‘‘Flowers in the Rain by the Move was the first song to be played when Radio One launched 50 years ago in 1967. I am proud of that.’’

Roy will also be performing: California Man, Fire Brigade, I Can Hear The Grass Grow, See My Baby Jive and many more.

Ths star never stood still in making music. He left The Move to co- found ELO with fellow Brum musician Jeff Lynne and then came the spell-binding supergroup Wizzard.

‘’I started out playing drums when I was six-years old. Later I took up bagpipes."

This self-taught musician showed his multi-talents when he played every instrument on his critically-acclaimed solo album, Boulders.

In his varied career he says being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently with Jeff Lynne is a major highlight.

‘‘A really brilliant honour that we are both so proud of. Jeff and I had a great time in New York.’’

He was also made a doctor of music at the University of Derby.

‘‘I can go home each night now and say I really am a songwriter.’’

Roy who lives in Derbyshire and is friends with Noddy Holder, is a Rock and Roll survivor and has had hits in the 60s, 70s and 80s. He was a regular star on Top of the Pops.

But he says he has no intention of ever appearing in a period pop package currently playing the arenas.

‘‘I don’t do nostalgia. I don’t want to play on a bill with a band that has only two of its original members.’’

Roy is very proud and fond of his classic festive song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday and says it has been so good to him.

That 1973 seasonal smash, he says, was brought out two weeks after Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody which went to number one.

Wizzard made number two, but the track remains for many people the start of the festive season each and every year

He is currently working on a new album and will finish it when people "stop interrupting him."

I remind Roy that it’s 30 years since I first "interrupted" him for an interview. He was turning 40 at the time – so now that he is approaching 70 I ask if he has any plans of retiring?

‘‘My daughter Holly lives in New York and I have seriously thought about going over there.

‘‘I still love being part of a band, but I don’t like touring at all – especially all the travelling.

‘‘If I could climb into Dr Who’s Tardis and be transported to each gig that way - I would be happy.’’

On this out-and-out rocking tour we won’t be seeing Roy in the famous face-paint and layers of costumes that the shy performer once used.

So are there any ambitions left for Mr Wood?

‘‘Making sure I do as well next week in whatever I am doing this week. I am just very happy to be called a songwriter.’’

So I ask the Birmingham boy made good if we will hear his perennial Christmas song - even though it’s only November, when he appears at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion with his band?

‘‘Oh I am sure the Wirral audience will talk me into it.’’

Roy Wood - Rock and Roll Band

International Guitar Festival

November 4

Box office 0151 666 0000,