Slade

[teddy]

Slade are an English rock band. Slade were one of the most recognizable acts of the glam rock movement and were, at their peak, the most commercially popular band in the UK. They are well known for the deliberate misspelling of their song titles and for the song "Merry Xmas Everybody" (released December 1973), now one of the most iconic Christmas pop songs in the United Kingdom.

[teddy]

Slade are from the Black Country area of the West Midlands: Drummer Don Powell and bass guitarist Jim Lea were both born and raised around Wolverhampton, while lead guitarist Dave Hill was born in Devon and moved to Wolverhampton as a child. Lead singer Noddy Holder was born and raised in the nearby town of Walsall. In writings by and about Slade, the Trumpet public house in Bilston is mentioned frequently as a band meeting place, especially in their early days.

One of the most acclaimed British rock bands of the 1970s, Slade are especially remembered for their brash songwriting and energetic live performances.

The group dominated the British charts during the early 1970s. During the height of their success, Slade out-performed their chart rivals, such as Wizzard, Sweet, T.Rex, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Smokie, Gary Glitter, Roxy Music and David Bowie. In the UK, they achieved 12 top five hits from 1971 to 1974, six of which topped the charts. In total, Slade had 17 top 20 hits between 1971 and 1976 including six #1s, three #2s and two #3s. No other UK act of the period enjoyed such consistency in the UK top 40 and Slade actually came the closest to matching The Beatles' 22 top ten records in a single decade (1960s). Three of their singles entered the charts at #1 and they sold more singles in the UK than any other group of the 1970s.

While Slade's attempts at cracking the United States market were largely unsuccessful, they left their mark on several US bands who cite Slade as an influence. Kiss bassist Gene Simmons readily admits that his band's early songwriting ethos and stage performance style was influenced by Slade. In his book "Kiss and Make-Up," Simmons writes on page 85, "the one we kept returning to was Slade," and "we liked the way they connected with the crowd, and the way they wrote anthems... we wanted that same energy, that same irresistible simplicity. but we wanted it American-style." Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick has said that his band went to see Slade perform, and that they used "every cheap trick in the book", thus inadvertently coining his group's name. Cheap Trick covered the song "When the Lights are Out" (the original one appears on the Old, New, Borrowed and Blue, 1974) on their 2009 record, The Latest. Quiet Riot had a U.S. hit with their cover of Cum on Feel the Noize and Mama Weer All Crazee Now.

[DrAndy]

Slade are an English rock band

were, and not that famous really and certainly not Glamrock

I did catch them twice, once on Arran and another time in Norwich

good fun live

[teddy]

"Slade was certainly our greatest influence; not only in the crafting of rock songs but also as performers. Before Slade, no one really knew shit about how to make an audience riot. We really got off on that. There would probably never have been us without them." - Gene Simmons (Kiss)

"And when I look at the greatest hits section by Sweet, or Slade, or any other of my favourite bands, there are TONS of compilation records." - Gene Simmons (Kiss) - Interview, Utopia Records website.

"I spent most of the early 70s listening to Slade Alive! thinking to myself, "Wow - this is what I want to do. I want to make that kind of intensity for myself. A couple of years later I was at CBGB's doing my best Noddy Holder." - Joey Ramone (Ramones)
"Slade never compromised. We always had the feeling that they were on our side. I don't know but I think we were right." - Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)

"They are a good group. I wanted to join them!" - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night)

"I couldn't do the heavy rock thing anymore. Noddy Holder was around kicking every singer in the ass. I never wanted to be a pop singer. Christ, how I hated Noddy!" - Tom Jones[citation needed]
"Slade was the coolest band in England. They were the kind of guys that would push your car out of a ditch." - Alice Cooper
"Slade was never pretentious. It was just music to them. Pop, rock, soul....it was all the same to Slade. They wrote great songs. And, besides, I'd like to raid their wardrobe." - Noel Gallagher (Oasis)

"The whole punk rock thing really happened because of bands such as Slade and the like; rock bands that wouldn't back off." - Paul Weller (The Jam/The Style Council)

"Absolutely. Slade! A band that would never bend over." - Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
"Slade was pretty much the only thing metal about glam rock in the 70s." - Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe) Ironically, Slade would replace Mötley Crüe as the opening act for Ozzy Osbourne.

"Whatever happened to bands that rocked liked Slade? Y'know, that no-bullshit, fuck you, in your face, we're bad-as-hell-and-we-know-it kind of band?" - David Coverdale (Whitesnake)

"All right? You look like Dave Hill from Slade" - Karl Pilkington, referring to his girlfriend's abysmal haircut, on the Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant & Karl Pilkington XFM Radio show, 8 November 2003 (transcript [1])

"This goes out to one of my all-time groups...Slade." - Lowell George (Little Feat) before performing Willin' on 7/19/1973 in Denver, Colorado [2

[teddy]

[teddy]

Slade are an English rock band

were, and not that famous really and certainly not Glamrock

I did catch them twice, once on Arran and another time in Norwich

good fun live

Do you know what a twat you are?

[teddy]

[Smug Farang Bore]

Skin heads to start though.

[lost the plot]

Slade what a band, great, L ove the youtube clips, many years ago as a school kid, 3 bands stood out as the ones to dance to, Slade, Mud, and Status quo.

Bring em on, can't stand the shite I hear these days

[withnallstoke]

"Slade was certainly our greatest influence

Slade was? Obviously a Yank quote. Slade were is English. Sloide am is Woolerveramperton.

Damn fine music though Edward, ald bean.

[Loy Toy]

Great live band and fooking loud, melt the bass bins.

If you wanted a great feel good experience that rocked Slade were the band closely followed by Status Quo.

I personally would love to have seen Noddy sing with ACDC..................would of been awesome!

[TizMe]

My first ever concert was at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney 1973.
Slade, Status Quo, Lindisfarne and Caravan.

Cum On Feel the Noize..

Still listen to "Slade Alive" occassionally.

[Loy Toy]

My first ever concert was at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney 1973.

Your fucking joking Tiz.

I was there as well that day and it pissed down raining almost all day and SQ come on last as the crowd was leaving and they all raced back when they started to play and they stole the show.

[teddy]

My first concert was the Jam around the time of That's Entertainment. Actually it was a jamming session with Paul, Bruce and the other guy stepping up to the drums and guitars in the Cricketers pub. I was only 16 but my mate had me drinking whiskey chasers with pints. Of course, I couldn't handle it and eventually pulled some curtains from the wall which were giving me support. This raised the aggression level higher and a few scuffles started. It was reported in the NME the next week.

Since then I haven't drunk whiskey chasers with anything.

[sabang]

Slade, Status Quo

Two bands that were even bigger in Oz than they were in the UK.
I only saw Slade live once, at the Adelaide Oval. Status Quid a few times.
Ausssies have always liked 'in your face' Rock.

[robuzo]

Not entirely unknown in the US. Kids in Philly/South Jersey where I grew up knew them, I thought they were great. "Weer All Crazee Now" I remember well. Never got a chance to see them live, although I did get to see Humble Pie around that time, and speaking of great lead singers, will never forget Steve Marriott.

[TizMe]

My first ever concert was at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney 1973.

Your fucking joking Tiz.

I was there as well that day and it pissed down raining almost all day and SQ come on last as the crowd was leaving and they all raced back when they started to play and they stole the show.

Funny, 36 years have passed, but my memory of the day is very different..

I did a search on the internet to see if there might have been more than one appearance... but I can only find one, 28 January 1973, Sydney, Randwick Racecourse.

I found this on YouTube:
Slade live in Sydney at what appears to be Randwick racecourse...courtesy of GTK.


I'll ask my brother what memory he has of the day when I next talk to him.

[Loy Toy]

I'll ask my brother what memory he has of the day when I next talk to him.

I may have been wrong as I saw SQ, Lindisfarne and Slade play on a number of occassions both at Randwick and the Hordern Pravillion but on that day I think it was the first time SQ played in OZ.

There were 8 bands planned, 4 Ozzie and the 4 you mentioned and because it rained the Oz bands were cancelled and they put SQ on last because most had come to see Slade.

Again it was a long time ago and I expect I was pretty stoned that day as well.

[kmart]

Saw Slade live at Donington Rock Festival many moons back. Best band of the day by a mile. Top live act.

[Attilla the Hen]

and certainly not Glamrock

Oh yes they were.....

[robuzo]

and certainly not Glamrock

Oh yes they were.....

The argument turns technical

[TizMe]

and certainly not Glamrock

Oh yes they were.....

Glam rock (also known as glitter rock) is a style that developed in the UK in the post-hippie early 1970s that was "performed by singers and musicians wearing outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots."


I think the evidence speaks for itself.

[Loy Toy]

I always associated glam rock with people such as Bowie, Marc Bolan (TRex) and others that played more melodious pretty music.

Slade music was pure and simple 4/4 rock and roll and if anything they pushed the sharpie gang look down under in Oz with the Sharpie haircut, Noddy Cap, Braces, white shoes, no socks and Martin Jackets.

[nedwalk]

i too!! lervv SLADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!, favourite album 'IN FLAME' i still break out the old vinyl and give it a floggin, and its amazing how many youngsters dig it!

[Gerbil]

i still break out the old vinyl and give it a floggin

I've never heard it called that before