Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

SLADE

UK pop quartet formed as Ambrose Slade '68: Noddy Holder (guitar, vocals; b Neville Holder, 15 June '50, Walsall, Staffordshire), Jim Lea (bass, vocals, piano; b 14 June '52, Wolverhampton), Dave Hill (guitar; b 4 April '52, Devon), Don Powell (drums; b 10 Sep. '50, Bilston, Staffs) capitalised on skinhead image, though skins' alleged fondness was for reggae, while Slade delivered pile-driving rock'n'roll. Former Animals bassist Chas Chandler managed them through greatest success. Ambrose Slade and Ballzy '69 were unrepresentative; from Play It Loud '70 they were unstoppable, with Gary Glitter and Marc Bolan providing the UK with some of its most fondly-remembered pop of the era, Holder & Lea writing singles. "Get Down And Get With It' scraped into top 20 '71; then 13 top ten hits '71-5 incl. no. one "Coz I Love You', "Mama Weer All Crazee Now', "Cum On Feel The Noize', "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me', "Merry Xmas Everybody' '73, the mis-spellings part of their football-terrace appeal. Holder's aggressive vocals at times sounded uncannily like John Lennon's (e.g. on "Merry Xmas'). Slade Alive '72 captured live appeal; Slayed '72, Sladest '73, Old New Borrowed Blue '74 were quintessential pop albums of the period; Slade In Flame was soundtrack for film which hoped to do for them what A Hard Day's Night had done for the Beatles a decade before; they tried to broaden appeal and aimed at USA market, lost home fans; Whatever Happened To Slade '77 was apposite: the punk explosion of that year was largely a working class movement, taking away their fans. They refused to go away, still popular on club/ college circuits, and persistence was rewarded with We'll Bring The House Down '81 (title track back in top 10), followed by Till Deaf Do Us Part '81, Slade On Stage '82, Amazing Kamikazi Syndrome '83 (incl. no. 2 hit, sentimental "My Oh My'). "Run Run Away' was no. 7 '84; Rogues Gallery '85 still found fans; You Boyz Make Big Noize '87 prod. by Roy Thomas Baker, better known for work with Cars and Queen.