FOR people of a certain age, this was as entertaining a way as any to get into the festive spirit.
At one time Roy Wood was a regular on the Christmas Top Of The Pops, belting out the hits he had notched over the years with The Move and Wizzard.
His support spot on Sunday with a fine bunch of rock'n'roll musicians – what a great horn section –
was a timely reminder of his often overlooked place in pop music history.
The likes of Fire Brigade, I Can See The Grass Grow and Angel Fingers jogged plenty of memories, but it was Flowers In The Rain, the first song played on Radio One in 1967, that really brought the audience to life, then Blackberry Way, then See My Baby Jive... And you just knew what was being saved for the lastr. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day was the ideal warm-up for a crowd-pleasing set from Status Quo.
With Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi, there are no qualms about riding a tide of nostalgia, and they went right back to Pictures Of Matchstick Men.
Yet this was a diversion from the main business of the no-nonsense heads-down approach that continues to satisfy their hard core fans. With the Quo, you get what it says on the tin.
From the opening chords of Caroline, victory was assured and, loosened up by Roy Wood, the audience responded enthusiastically to Rocking All Over The World, Down Down, Paper Plane and Whatever You Want.
No musical barriers were smashed down, but this was party time. Who was caring?
