Roy Wood's Helicopters
Encyclopedia
Roy Wood's Helicopters was a band formed by Roy Wood
and Renaissance
bass guitarist Jon Camp in 1979 and consisted of Wood, Camp, guitarist Robin George, keyboard players Paul Robbins, Mike Deacon and drummer Kex Gorin
. The band was only used to play live shows (playing mainly songs Wood composed for The Move
) and Wizzard
, plus some of his solo singles and Jeff Lynne
's "10538 Overture". Terry Rowley and Tom Farnell joined the line-up for some of the live dates.
The singles, both of which failed to chart, featured Roy playing all the instruments. A third single, "Aerial Pictures", was cancelled due to the lack of success from the others.
† Vocal backing by Annie Haslam
‡ Featuring the Kempsey Primary School Choir
¶ Vocal backing by Noddy Holder
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
and Renaissance
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...
bass guitarist Jon Camp in 1979 and consisted of Wood, Camp, guitarist Robin George, keyboard players Paul Robbins, Mike Deacon and drummer Kex Gorin
Kex Gorin
Kex Gorin , was a British drummer. He was the original drummer for Magnum and played on the bands first four studio albums and one live album...
. The band was only used to play live shows (playing mainly songs Wood composed for The Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
) and Wizzard
Wizzard
Wizzard was a Birmingham-based band formed by Roy Wood, former member of The Move and co-founder of Electric Light Orchestra. The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits states, "Wizzard was Roy Wood just as much as Wings were Paul McCartney."-Biography:...
, plus some of his solo singles and Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
's "10538 Overture". Terry Rowley and Tom Farnell joined the line-up for some of the live dates.
The singles, both of which failed to chart, featured Roy playing all the instruments. A third single, "Aerial Pictures", was cancelled due to the lack of success from the others.
Singles
- "Rock CityRock CityRock City is a roadside attraction near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, located near Ruby Falls. It is well-known for the many barn advertisements throughout the Southeast and Midwest United States that have the slogan "See Rock City" painted on barn roofs...
" / "Givin' Your Heart Away"† (Cheapskate, 1980) - "Green Glass Windows"‡ / "The Driving Song"¶ (EMI, 1981)
- "Aerial Pictures" / "Airborne" - EMI, not released until 2006
† Vocal backing by Annie Haslam
Annie Haslam
Annie Haslam is an English progressive rock vocalist and songwriter.Originally a fashion student, she began studying under opera singer Sybil Knight in 1970 and developed her five-octave vocal range...
‡ Featuring the Kempsey Primary School Choir
¶ Vocal backing by Noddy Holder
Noddy Holder
Neville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....