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Slade

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Slade is an English rock band from Wolverhampton, in the area known as the Black Country. The four members, the singer Noddy Holder, the guitarist Dave Hill, the bass player Jim Lea and the drummer Don Powell, played together from 1966 as the 'N Betweens. In 1969 Jack Baverstock of Philips Records signed them and they were given the name Ambrose Slade, which soon became Slade. Their debut album was Beginnings from 1969.

Music and breakthrough

In the early 1970s Slade belonged to glam rock and the band dominated the British singles charts. Between 1971 and 1976 they reached the British top twenty seventeen times, six of them at number one. All the number 1s were written by Holder and Lea. Well known are Cum On Feel the Noize, Mama Weer All Crazee Now and the Christmas song Merry Xmas Everybody from 1973. The deliberate misspellings in the titles were also striking. The music is raw and rough: Holder's powerful shouting voice, a stomping band and choruses that a hall sings along to at once. Hill stood out with extravagant clothing.

Influence

After a failed attempt in the United States in 1975, Slade lost ground at home. In 1980 the band stepped in at the Reading Festival for Ozzy Osbourne, which meant a fresh start, with harder songs. In 1984 they broke through in America with Run Runaway and My Oh My. In 1992 the band broke up, but Hill and Powell carried on, first as Slade II and from 2002 again as Slade. Many artists from widely differing genres name Slade as an influence.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Cum On Feel the Noize. Notice Holder's screaming voice, the heavy, stomping drums and how the chorus seems made to be shouted along to by a whole hall.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists