Stuart “Woody” Wood is thrilled to be back in the Bay City Rollers fold ahead of Hydro show

Bay City Rollers (left to right) Stuart Wood, Les McKeown and Alan Longmuir (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

BAY CITY ROLLER Stuart “Woody” Wood has promised fewer ding-dongs, more Shang-A-Langs.

The ’70s pop sensations reunited last year as exclusively revealed by The Sunday Post.

The reformed line-up of Woody, Alan Longmuir and frontman Les McKeown played a series of sell-out gigs at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow at Christmas.

And they saw the New Year in as the star attraction on BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay show.

But just before they performed at T In The Park last summer, Woody announced he’d be quitting shortly afterwards.

Now, though, he’s told iN10 why he’s thrilled to be back in the fold as the band gear up for a concert at the SSE Hydo – and why the battling has to stop.

“The Christmas thing was a bit rushed,” confides Woody, 59.

“It all came together really quickly. It was only supposed to be one gig, just to see how we all got on and to make plans from there.

“But we got into it a bit too fast. Now we’ve had time to take a step back and it’s helped to put things in perspective.

“So we’re a lot more at ease with each other and there’s a definite plan in place now. It’s looking bright for the future.”

The band have been riven by strife since their initial split in 1978, with barneys, bust-ups and bitterness.

As well as well-publicised money wrangles, there was no shortage of personal rancour and threats of litigation.

That continued after Woody’s decision to walk away in the summer, with mud-slinging and fingers pointed at his wife, Denise, as a source of disharmony.

However, Woody takes a diplomatic stance and insists the trio aren’t at each other’s throats.

“When we get together we have a great laugh. We tend to spark off each other and we do get on.

“There’s a nice energy and everything’s absolutely fine. But other things, business things, get in the way.

“That leads to things getting out of hand. Because we had the break after T In The Park, though, it’s helped cement everything.

“And from now on, everything should be pretty straightforward, which is what the fans want.

“As you get older you get a bit set in your ways and used to the way things have been for many a year.

“Change is difficult but common sense tends to prevail and the right thing happen – eventually.”

The Hydro gig on December 11 is a massive step up from the smaller-scale Barrowland appearances.

Woody had never even been to the iconic venue before the concert’s launch event.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to know we’re going to be playing there.

“For a band that was around away back in the 1970s to be appearing in a place like that is spectacular.

“It’s one of the biggest music venues anywhere in the world and although it’s not that old, you can sense the atmosphere and I know we’re following in the footsteps of some amazing acts.”

Woody has never lost his musical passion, spending a couple of years playing in Los Angeles and a further eight in bands in South Africa after the Rollers’ split.

More recently he’s been fulfilling another ambition, being involved with the hit Broons and Oor Wullie albums.

“I grew up with The Sunday Post and I couldn’t wait to read the strips every week,” says Woody.

“And the annuals were always on my Christmas list, so it’s been a real honour to be involved.”

There’s more new music coming from the Rollers as well as other plans in the pipeline.

Woody admits he’s been heartened to see a younger generation really getting into their music at T In The Park, adding to the throngs of original fans still lapping up toe-tappers like Bye Bye Baby.

And although he turns 60 next year, he says he’s still young at heart.

“I’m the type of person who thinks age is just a number,” adds Woody.

“I remember my dad saying to me, when he was in mid-70s, that you don’t feel any different in your head.

“That’s definitely the case. You just find yourself having other interests.

“I didn’t think I’d be watching documentaries and listening to some of the things I do.

“But as long as you’ve got your health which, thankfully, I have, you just keep on going.”

The Bay City Rollers, SSE Hydro, Sun, Dec 11

Shangalang time again as Bay City Rollers hit the road