Slade

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For other uses, see Slade (disambiguation).

Slade

Origin	Black Country, England
Years active	1966–1993
Genres	Hard rock and Glam rock
Labels	Polydor RCA

Slade were an English glam rock and hard rock band. Slade were one of the most recognisable 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.

1 Overview
2 Career history
3 Members
4 Discography

[edit] Overview

Slade were praised by their fans for their critically acclaimed live shows and their long string of hits. During the height of their success, Slade out-performed their chart rivals Wizzard, Sweet, T. Rex, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Smokie, Gary Glitter 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 emulating 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.

NME journalist and music critic Eddie Shum and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher have both been quoted as saying the band were "Fundamentally more important to the development of music than Radiohead". While Slade's attempts at cracking the United States market were largely unsuccessful, they left their mark on a 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. Quiet Riot had a U.S. hit with their cover of Cum on Feel the Noize.

The original band's memory was kept alive by comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, who respectfully sent up the band in a number of what the band called 'hysterically accurate' 'Slade in residence' and 'Slade on holiday' sketches in their The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer TV show in the early 1990s - these are available on DVD.

Slade are most associated with the Black Country in Britain's West Midlands, although the band's members came from Devon, Staffordshire, and the Black Country towns Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Harry Shearer has claimed that he based the band Spinal Tap, from This is Spinal Tap, on Slade.^{[citation needed]} However, it is widely known and confirmed that the band in the film was based on numerous UK "heavy metal" and "glam" bands including Slade, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and T. Rex and most certainly, Saxon. While doing research for the film, Shearer and his fellow writers and cast-mates interviewed a number of 70s Rock stalwarts requesting their greatest "road stories". At one point in the film, Spinal Tap is listed on a marquee as playing second billing to a Puppet Show. Noddy Holder tells a similar story regarding Slade's "low phase" in his autobiography. This very funny moment in "This Is Spinal Tap" may very well be a page from Slade's true history. It is worth noting that Slade always have had a wonderful sense of humour about their success (or lack thereof, depending upon the decade) and have always been honest and apt to parody themselves.

[edit] Career history

The band started out as the N'Betweens in 1966, formed from members of two Midlands bands, The Vendors and Steve Brett & The Mavericks. They initially had little success, apart from on the local club circuit, where they were extremely busy and in the late 1960s the band changed its name to Ambrose Slade and hooked up with manager Chas Chandler. Their name was eventually shortened to Slade, and the band adopted a skinhead look, as an attempt to gain publicity from what was a newsworthy youth fashion trend. They later abandoned this look, due to the unwelcome association with football hooliganism. They grew their hair long again, in time to become a leading part of the glam rock movement, releasing songs with deliberately Black Country-style mis-spelled titles which made them stand out.

From 1971 to 1975, the band scored many huge-selling consecutive hit albums and singles. Singles entered the charts at number one - a feat unheard of since the days of The Beatles. Their concerts were all automatic sellouts, and the band was the first to take the risk of booking the massive Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London for a couple of nights (although David Bowie promptly booked the venue for a couple of dates before Slade were due to perform). Following this period, Don Powell was critically injured in a car crash and the band's future was left in the balance. Powell eventually recovered, although he still suffers with acute short-term memory and sensory problems.

Partly due to changes in music trends and the advent of punk rock and New Wave music, Slade's success faded somewhat by the late 1970s, although the group continued to release records and punk bands were not afraid to cite them as an influence. They enjoyed a return to the UK charts, after their 1980 Reading festival appearance and finally managed to enter the higher reaches of the United States charts.

In August 1980, Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard Of Ozz cancelled their set at the Reading Festival with very short notice. Slade, who had all but disbanded, were recommended to replace them. A demoralised Dave Hill had effectively left the band and initially refused to do the show when asked by the other band members, but manager Chas Chandler convinced Hill to play what could very well have been their last ever live show in front of a huge crowd rather than in a small club. To Hill's utter astonishment, the band were well-received at the festival (highlights of their performance were also broadcast on BBC Radio 1's Friday Rock Show Reading special), and quickly became darlings of the music press again — despite doing nothing different at Reading than they had done onstage in recent years.

A new run of chart success followed, though not on the large scale of their 1970s heights. Holder and Lea became in-demand for production and songwriting duties for other acts for a while. Slade had another two UK top 10 hits in 1984, with the singles Run Runaway and My Oh My (#2 UK, #36 US). Run Runaway reached #7, which would be their second top 40 hit in the USA — and their first since Gudbuy T'Jane, which barely made the top 40 in 1972. Interestingly enough, these hits happened despite Slade not touring to support the releases.

They later returned to the UK singles chart in 1991 with the song Radio Wall of Sound.

Noddy Holder became weary of constant touring, effectively managing the band and of the music business and left the band in late 1991 after 25 years. The remainder of the band were given a period of notice in which to consider their options. Rather than take on another singer, Jimmy Lea effectively retired. Dave Hill and Don Powell (the band's founder members) formed Slade II with three other local musicians at that point. The name was once again shortened to Slade after a period.

[edit] Members

Slade (1966-1991)	Noddy Holder - Lead Vocals, guitar Jim Lea - Bass, guitar, violin, piano, keyboard Dave Hill - Lead Guitar, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums
Slade II (1993-1994)	Steve Whalley - Vocals Dave Hill - Guitar, backing vocals Steve Makin - Guitar, backing vocals Craig Fenney – Bass, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums
Slade II (1994-1997)	Steve Whalley - Vocals, guitar Dave Hill - Guitar, backing vocals Trevor Holiday - Bass, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums
Slade (1998-2000)	Steve Whalley - Vocals, guitar Dave Hill - Guitar, backing vocals Trevor Holiday - Bass, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums
Slade (2000-2003)	Steve Whalley - Vocals, guitar Dave Hill - Guitar, backing vocals Dave Glover- Bass, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums
Slade (2003-2005)	Steve Whalley - Vocals, guitar Dave Hill - Guitar, backing vocals John Berry - Bass, violin, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums
Slade (2005-Present)	Mal McNulty - Vocals, guitar Dave Hill - Guitar, backing vocals John Berry - Bass, violin, backing vocals Don Powell - Drums

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

1. Beginnings Year: 1969, Label: Fontana Records (UK) Chart positions: Did Not Chart	2. Play It Loud Year 1970, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: Did Not Chart	3. Slade Alive! Year: 1972, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: #2 (UK), #1 (Australia- 12 weeks)	4. Slayed? Year: 1972, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: #1 (UK), #54 (US), #1 (Australia- 6 weeks)
5. Sladest Year: 1973, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: #1 (UK), #3 (Australia)	6. Old, New, Borrowed and Blue Year: 1974, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: #1 (UK), #6 (Australia)	7. Slade in Flame Year: 1974, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: #6 (UK), #25 (Australia)	8. Nobody's Fools Year: 1976, Label: Polydor Records (UK) Chart positions: #14 (UK),
9. Whatever Happened to Slade? Year: 1977, Label: Barn Records (UK) Chart positions: Did Not Chart	10. Slade Alive, Vol. 2 Year: 1978, Label: Barn Records Chart positions: Did Not Chart	11. Return To Base Year: 1979, Label: Barn Records Chart positions: Did Not Chart	12. Slade Smashes Year: 1981, Label: Polydor (UK) Chart positions: #21 (UK)
12. We'll Bring The House Down Year: 1981, Label: Cheapskate Records (UK) Chart positions: #25 (UK)	13. Til Deaf Do Us Part Year: 1981, Label: RCA Records (UK) Chart positions: #68 (UK)	14. Slade On Stage Year: 1982, Label: RCA Records (UK) Chart positions: #98 (UK)	15. The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome Year: 1983, Label: RCA Records (UK) Chart positions: #49 (UK), #50 (Australia)
16. Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply Year: 1984, Label: CBS Records (US) Chart positions: #33 (US)	17. Rogues Gallery Year: 1985, Label: RCA Records (UK)/ CBS Records (US) Chart positions: #60 (UK) #132(US)	18. Crackers- The Slade Party Album Year: 1985, Label: Telstar Chart positions: #34 (UK)	19. You Boyz Make Big Noize Year: 1987, Label: RCA Records (UK)/ CBS Records (US) Chart positions: #98 (UK)
20. Wall Of Hits Year: 1991, Label: Polydor Records Chart positions: #34 (UK)	21. Feel The Noize- Greatest Hits Year: 1997, Label: Polydor Records Chart positions: #19 (UK)	22. The Very Best Of Slade Year: 2005, Label: Universal Records Chart positions: #31 (UK)	23. The Slade Box 4 CD Anthology 1969-1991 Year: 2006, Label: Salvo
24. B-Sides Year: 2007, Label: Salvo

[edit] Reissues

1. Beginnings / Play It Loud Year: 2006 Label: Salvo (UK)) Remastered and expanded 2 on 1 CD reissue.	2. Slade Alive! - The Slade live anthology Year: 2006 Label: Salvo Remastered live CD collection.	3. Slayed? Year: 2006 Label: Salvo Remastered and expanded CD reissue.	4. Old New Borrowed And Blue Year: 2006 Label: Salvo Remastered and expanded CD reissue.
5. Crackers: The Rockin' Party Album! Year: 2006 Label: Salvo Remastered CD reissue.	6. Slade In Flame Year: 2007 Label: Salvo Remastered CD reissue.	7. Nobody's Fools Year: 2007 Label: Salvo Remastered and expanded CD reissue.	8. Whatever Happened To Slade Year: 2007 Label: Salvo Remastered and expanded CD reissue.
9. We'll Bring The House Down Year: 2007 Label: Salvo Remastered and expanded CD reissue.	10. Till Deaf Do Us Part Year: 2007 Label: Salvo Remastered and expanded CD reissue.

[edit] Albums by Slade II

1994 "Keep on Rockin" Did Not Chart
1999 "Wild Nites" Did Not Chart
2001 "Superyob" Did Not Chart
2002 "Cum On Let's Party!" Did Not Chart

[edit] Albums by Jim Lea

1991 "A Day in the Life of The Dummies" Did Not chart
2007 "Therapy" Did Not Chart

[edit] U.K. Singles

1966 "You Better Run" Did Not Chart
1969 "Genesis" Did Not Chart
1969 "Wild Winds Are Blowing" Did Not Chart
1970 "The Shape Of Things To Come" Did Not Chart
1970 "Know Who You Are" Did Not Chart
1971 "Get Down And Get With It" UK #16
1971 "Coz I Luv You" UK #1
1972 "Look Wot You Dun" UK #4
1972 "Take Me Bak 'Ome" UK #1, (US #97)
1972 "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" UK #1, (US #76)
1972 "Gudbuy T' Jane" UK #2, (US #68)
1973 "Cum on Feel the Noize" UK #1, (US #98)
1973 "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" UK #1
1973 "My Friend Stan" UK #2
1973 "Merry Xmas Everybody" UK #1
1974 "Everyday" UK #3
1974 "The Bangin' Man" UK #3
1974 "Far Far Away" UK #2
1975 "How Does It Feel" UK #15
1975 "Thanks For The Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)" UK #7
1975 "In For A Penny" UK #11
1976 "Let's Call It Quits" UK #11
1976 "Nobody's Fool" Did Not Chart
1977 "Gypsy Road Hog" UK #48
1977 "Burning In The Heat Of Love" Did Not Chart
1977 "My Baby Left Me - That's All Right" UK #32
1978 "Give Us A Goal" Did Not Chart
1978 "Rock N Roll Bolero" Did Not Chart
1979 "Ginny Ginny" Did Not Chart
1979 "Sign O' The Times" Did Not Chart
1979 "Okey Cokey" Did Not Chart
1980 "Alive At Reading '80" (EP) UK #44
1980 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #70
1981 "We'll Bring The House Down" UK #10
1981 "Wheels Ain't Comin' Down" UK #60
1981 "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy" Did Not Chart
1981 "Lock Up Your Daughters" UK #29
1981 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #32
1982 "Ruby Red" UK #51
1982 "(And Now The Waltz) C'est La Vie" UK #50
1982 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #67
1983 "My Oh My" UK #2, (US #37)
1983 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #20
1984 "Run Runaway" UK #7, (US #20)
1984 "All Join Hands" UK #15
1984 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #47
1985 "7 Year Bitch" UK #60
1985 "Myzterious Mizter Jones" UK #50
1985 "Do You Believe In Miracles?" UK #54
1986 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #48
1987 "Still The Same" UK #73
1987 "That's What Friends Are For" UK #95
1987 "You Boyz Make Big Noize" Did Not Chart
1988 "We Won't Give In" Did Not Chart
1989 "Let's Dance" Did Not Chart
1991 "Radio Wall Of Sound" UK #21
1991 "Universe" Did Not Chart
1998 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #30
2006 "Merry Xmas Everybody" (re-issue) UK #21

[edit] Singles by Slade II

1993 "Hold On To Love" Did Not Chart
1994 "Merry Xmas Now" Did Not Chart
1995 "Hot Luv" Did Not Chart
1995 "Black and White World" Did Not Chart
2002 "Some Exercise" Did Not Chart
2002 "Take Me Home" Did Not Chart

[edit] DVDs and Videos

1. Wall Of Hits - 1991,
Polygram Video

2. Slade In Flame - 2003,
Union Square Music

3. The Very Best Of Slade - 2005,
Universal Music

Preceded by Little Jimmy Osmond Long Haired Lover From Liverpool	*UK Christmas Number One single* Merry Christmas Everybody 1973	Succeeded by Mud Lonely This Christmas

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/l/a/Slade.html"