I was there. That crowd was a vicious, monstrous beast, quite capable of turning on anybody or anything that earned their displeasure, the band Girl having been literally pelted offstage earlier simply for "looking a little bit poofy'. Slade could so easily have suffered a similar fate. We'd paid for Ozzy and the organisers were trying to palm us off with a bunch of old has-beens like Slade? I've seen some killer sets in my life but nothing has or will ever come close to the magic that I witnessed over the following 45 minutes. Slade were utterly, utterly magnificent and in the finest traditions of the performing arts they stole the show.
I was there. I've seen around 2500 bands over the past 46 years. SLADE are still the best live band I ever saw and that Reading Gig is the best live set I've ever seen. I was one of the couple of hundred who were down the front when they started, as I was a SLADE fan anyway. The VLOG is a wonderfully accurate description of what happened that day. I'd gone to Reading festival with a mate and my brother. When SLADE were due on, I left them to go down the front. When I got back to them after the set, they were open-mouthed, not quite sure what they'd just witnessed. It was magical! Listening to the Vlog has brought a tear to my eye, remembering how proud I was that my favourite band showed 80,000 odd metalheads that they were the greatest live band they'd ever see. I felt sorry for Def Leppard. Follow that!! Keep on Rockin'
Some serious talent on that poster at 12:19, though it was a bit before my time. My first festival was Donington with Quo, Hawkwind and Gillan. 82 I think.
Hats off to David Graham, the ultimate Slade fan and archivist, who was responsible for much of the content in this documentary. David sadly passed away in 2024.
Agreed. It’s naturally the way he sings. He went for a check up about his throat and his doctor asked him how long he had been singing like that. He told him all his life, at which the doctor said something like oh you’ll be alright then.😂
when my daughter was at primary school in the late 1990's, all her friends knew all the members of Westlife, Take That and whatever boy bands were out there. MY daughter could name all four members of Slade from the cover of Slayed. Attagirl.
This is engrained on my memory. I was one of the "detractors" utterly blown away by their performance. I had no idea, however, how important that show was to them as well! Awesome!😊
Saw them a few months later at Coventry Poly in March 81 at the height of 2 Tone. I was a student there and had seen The Specials, Selector, Madness as well as U2 on the Boy Tour plus Echo and The Bunnymen and numerous new wave NME bands of choice. Slade packed the place out and were the best I'd seen by a comfortable distance.
I wasn’t there but heavy metal friends of mine were and told me the following week that it was an incredible moment. As told here, they were part of the crowd who were walking away and on hearing Slade stopped and rushed back to the stage. A feel good moment listening to this. Slade were part of my early teen years and every time I hear a Slade track it transports me back. Thank you.
I was there, up the front, couldn't believe my luck that Slade were on. My favourite band. Dave was tuning up (again). I shouted "It's close enough!". Noddy repeated that on the mic. to him. That moment made it onto the "Six of the Best" live at Reading EP. My moment of fame.😂
I was never a Slade fan in the 1970s, it just wasn’t my type of music. I forget what year it was but sometime in the early 1980s I went to Donnington monsters of rock and Slade were on the bill. I thought oh no! Everyone was sitting down drinking from 2 litre plastic bottles of beer and lager. Then the time came, Slade were announced and I thought oh god! They came onto the stage and within 30 seconds of the first song, everyone was up and leaping about. Then seconds later all the empty beer bottles started to be thrown up in the air, not at the stage. It was like a swarm of bees and they never stopped flying until the band went off. Biggest cheer of the day for Slade and I was grinning from ear to ear. What an absolutely stunning live band they are. Now I will hear no wrong about Slade. They were awesome. 👍🏻😃
@@tonyhalsall3170 You're right they were after BOC - I'm a BOC fan but there's was an awful set - but it was 1981. AC/DC headlining, Whiltesnake 2nd on the bill. Blackfoot were on that year too
@@kevinkilner2388 you may well be right. The early 80’s was a long time ago. I do remember that AC/DC topped the bill and the fireworks were great. More so, I remember Slade quite literally slaying it after Blue Oyster Cult.
That was a very enjoyable watch and many thanks for your mention of David Graham and his SIE page... David did so much for the Slade community in his constant drive to get the band greater acclaim...He is sadly missed...Many thanks.
As the shows producer, also manager at that time of Marquee club, I had already experienced the talents of Slade having taken a chance with them playing the Marquee so I had no hesitation in booking them as a replacement act when we lost the services of ozzie Osborne that year. Chas Chandler, being a friend from his days with the Animals, & at this time their manager didn't have too hard a job of pleading me for the gig. We all won that day! 😉😉
I too was there! I was part of a group of 15 or so people who drove down from North Wales in a Sherpa van with no back seats! When we arrived security told us that Slade were replaceing Ozzy - I was not disappointed but most of the rest of the group were! "Slade? They're crap" was one of the nicer phrases! I wasn't having that - I was a secret fan and even then still had the "Slade in Flame - it's only a film" T-Shirt. On the afternoon Paul and I went down to near the front and we had the time of our lives. I remember Noddy shouting something like ' we done them all - what do you wanna hear?.... Merry Christmas? But it's the bloody middle of Summer - at least tha's what I think he said - but play it they did. Brilliant! I don't remember any other band that weekend - it was over 40 years ago and things did get hazy for us teenagers for various reasons!
Actually the crowd were yelling for it and he was telling them to get stuffed (only not so politely) pointing out it was August. "You want it? YOU sing it!" I saw them a couple more times, as they were neighbours geographically, and they were underrated, because of the Glam Rock image. But they weren't "The Best Band Ever" as some are claiming. Reading audiences were not very well informed, musically, being mainly pimply adolescents, so of course they had never heard a decent band! Which is why Gallagher and Slade blew them away
I was there as well, and the initial skepticism of the crowd quickly turned round to manic support. Real performers they knew how to work a crowd. I might be mixing up my Reading festivals but I think Def Leopard topped the bill after Slade at got a very rough ride, most folks thought they had run off to the states and abandoned their core fans. Anyway, that might be the memory and my diet at the time playing tricks on me
This was broadcast on BBC Radio 1 live. I had just bought my first home, hence no more partying, it was Sunday evening, I didn't have the spare cash, so I did my ironing, to the radio. I had prioritised buying a telephone, over having a TV, so the Wireless was my source of entertainment. Tommy Vance was his usual assured self, and the bands were "average to boring", they all were so serious, and then came a breath of fresh air, Slade, and they were BRILLIANT. They were so vibrant compared to anyone who had played earlier, and finished it off in style, in the middle of August ~So here it is Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun" And it was clear they were, having fun.
Happy to say that I was there! One of the few who stayed when they were announced, as the others disappeared! I was there with me mates to see Leopard, but I ended up seeing the greatest gig I’d ever been too! I grew up with them in the 70s, and here they were, brilliant!!! Thanks for sharing this with your supporters James! Long live Slade!🤟
Glad you have put this out, it really was one of those pivotal moments in a Bands career, and everyone who witnessed it. I have not read all the comments yet, so maybe this has already been said, but it really was like a massive party, and one of the things that sticks in my mind is people climbing up the big marquees and literally sliding down, flying off the end and if they were lucky getting caught by the rest of the crowd. Great remembering such a great time. Thanks
I was there and it was better than you described. We refused to let Slade leave the stage and Reading always were dead strict with bands not leaving on time. The normal response would have been turning the power off and lights but, the organisers knew there would probably have been a riot if the did that so the band were allowed to leave when they and us in the crowd were ready. I used to go the Reading every year but after that I knew it would never be the same again. So I never went back.
Was at reading that year and to say they absolutely stormed it is a understatement,I’ve never ever seen a band turn a crowd around in the space of 30 mins from wtf are they doing here to all the crowd singing merry Christmas in the August sunshine….ozzy was soon forgotten once they hit the stage
I was also there... and to be honest, no written or spoken words could ever do justice to just how good Slade were that day... (...and the atmosphere that they alone created) We truly were honoured to have witnessed something that remarkable... 🙂
I was there in front of the stage just feet away from Noddy when they started their set with "Hello everybody, are you alright, GET DOWN AND GET WITH IT . . . "
Thankyou SO MUCH for such a brilliant documentary!! 🎉❤. SLADE we're one of the first 'Pop' bands l ever listened to. In 1971 l was 12 and up until then l was only supposed to listen to classical music!...so it was a pretty big deal suddenly being exposed to songs like 'Jean Geni' by David Bowie, 'Get it on' by T Rex' an' C'mon Feel the Noise' by Slade!!. And my nick name at school was Noddy!! 😂😅, which at the time l disliked, but in retrospect...maybe l should have been PROUD!...After all...he was, and still is...one of my ROCK & ROLL HEROES!!!. So Thanks once again Sir, for bringing back some wonderful, priceless memories of child in to adult memories for me!!!.
What a fab documentary, thank you very much. I really enjoyed it. The thing is if you've got talent & work very hard you get very good. I have had the good fortune of doing odd jobs as a kid for Slade i.e. changing Jimmy Lees 15" speakers in his SNS cabs at Modern music in Dudley when i was still at school back in mid seventies. Jim bought me a Pork sandwich from the shop next door. I only saw them once at the Greyhound track Momore Green Wolverhampton in 1980 as I'd got to know some of the crew JJ, Johnny Jones ( Big mates with his brother Brian). Slade where a fantastic live act. If you have not seen them you will never understand. Have a listen to Slade alive on a good stereo system turned up, it will give you some idea, and if your in a band try playing " Know who you are " it's great song & there's more to it than you first hear but very powerful. Thanks again. Rob
Used to work for NJF (National Jazz Festival) Marquee who organised the annual August 3 day festival. Ozzy was originally billed, but cancelled at the last minute. Can't remember if it was Jack Barrie (Manager / Artist Booking of the Marquee Club in London) or Howard Pendleton (Founder / Owner of the Marquee Club) who contacted Chas, but the lads turned up without a road crew, so we're acting as their own Roadies. Remember the crowd just grew as the hits kept playing. For their encore, I remember the bog rolls were tossed by the stage crew over the back line, absolute magic. Merry Christmas in August will go down in history. Noddy was so taken by the crowd, he came front stage to feel the atmosphere shake hands with the punters and watch Def Leopard on stage A. He was swigging from a bottle of Tequila, by the time he left there wasn't much left and he needed to be helped back to his back stage caravan! Great memories. Crackin' band.
This is the second reference to 'bog rolls' seen in the comments- while a fan of Slade outside of my friends at the time, am not familiar with this expression. A little help?
@@HelenRundell‘bog roll’ is a uk slang word for toilet rolls. Reading festival at the time was famous for the audience throwing whatever they could get their hands on at acts they didn’t like and probably even some they did like.
@zappasmoustache23 So true. If an act wasn't pleasing the audience, empty beer cans or plastic bottles would be hurled towards the stage. The unsavoury part was when plastic bottles were thrown with the top off, consequently showering the audience below with its contents. The really unsavoury bit was if the hurler had decided to urinate into the bottle first. As the audience was free standing, position to front of stage was key, ie first come first served. So walking to the bogs (toilets) was considered inconvenient due to possible loss of position. In order to quell or address any of these throwers, if spotted, we had a small group of Belgium bikers who would jump the front stage barriers and wonder over to that section of the crowd, despite their limited knowledge of the English language, their 'diplomatic skills' were enough to quell any future repeats!
I was there. This doesn't come close to describing the animosity felt towards Slade. I was at the front just to yell at them, there were "f**k off Slade" banners, flying, I doubt anyone cheered when they came on apart from anything else it wouldn't have been safe, the crowd was that hostile. But they turned everything around, just did their thing brilliantly. I was 15 at the time I am 60 now and still get goosebumps remembering that afternoon.
Serendipity is probably the word for this event. I'd bought Slade's single, Sign of the Times, in '79, and it'd had to be ordered. It was so overlooked that it wasn't stocked, and that was only 5 or 6 years after they'd been the biggest band in England. The song was great, but subdued, and only the heavy, raucous B-side, Not Tonight Josephine, gave a hint that Slade still had energy to spare. Tommy Vance's encouragement must've helped the lads, because TV was the centre of the rock music world at the time - The Friday Rock Show was essential listening. And Slade made history again with their renaissance at Reading '80. The headliners and special guests weren't actually heavy metal per se - Rory Gallagher, Gillan, UFO and Whitesnake, with Budgie a little closer to HM - but these were all energetic, heavy-rocking acts. You could tell from the way Noddy had the audience enthusiastically singing and clapping along to When I'm Dancing I Ain't Fighting, a song most of them had never heard before, that Slade were winning. It was a lovely turnaround for four down-to-earth guys. Although Gillan, UFO and Whitesnake were three of my favourite bands (still are), I was happy that Slade were the most-discussed band of the festival! This was almost a foretaste of Queen at Live Aid in '85.
@@andymurray9811 It's criminal that they weren't asked. W*nker Geldolf. I watched the whole of Live Aid thinking Slade would wipe the floor with this lot.
@@andymurray9811 They would have blown them all off stage even Queen, i have seen every big band live since 67, and no band has come close to Slade live.
A dear friend of mine dragged me to the Mayfair Newcastle to see Slade , I dreaded it. In 25 years of seeing some of the greats there Slade were the best and held the record of paying customers thru the doors ........ Live and Electric and pure JOY.
A great video on a great band. I grew up listening to Led Zepellin, Genesis, Yes, and Pink Floyd thanks to my uncle, who was more like an older brother due to our age differences. Slade was one of the first bands I started listening to and buying records of my choice. The only regret I have is being too young to see them live in the 1970s. I finally saw them live on their Till Deaf Do Us Part tour and what a fantastic concert it was.
I saw Slade in the late 70's and their live set was something to behold. Instead of belting out their many 70's Pop Hits they played a heavy set more akin to their Slade Alive Album which was simply amazing. Great Live Band !
I do love Slade when they were at their peak. Noddy's voice is as recognisable and inspiring Their music is always fun and so good in the catchy, memorable and strong hooks. One of THE most underrated rock bands ever who deserves a lot of love.
In the late 70s I was working as a chef at a university hall of residence in Sheffield. Each year they held a 'Hall Ball' with live bands. One year it was Mick Hucknall with 'Frantic Elevators' just before he broke with Simply Red. A previous year maybe 77 or 78 it was SLADE. They nearly blew the windows out. Absolutely brilliant. They used our staff room all day and kept coming in the kitchen to nick food but they were a good laugh. I saw them again at Butlins Skegness for the MCN (Motorcycle News) weekender. All bikers in a packed club and SLADE giving it like they always do. Still the best live band I've ever seen with some great records.
I saw Slade at an upstate NY University in 73(?), the opening act was Elf with Ronnie Padanova (Dio) on lead vocals. And there standing in the gymnasium was Chas Chandler. Not many people there but Holder screamed for us to all stand up, so we did. What a night!
When I first started to roadie and tour in the late 80's a dear mate who is sadly no longer with us and who was quite a bit older than me told me this story (many times!) as Slade were always his fave band. He'd decided to go to Reading just as a punter but knowing many of the crew had heard the rumour that Slade were replacing Ozzy so he was well up for it and thought, or maybe hoped, as most people would know the hits a good few would maybe nod along in an appreciative almost nostalgic manner. Although bands could easily get bottled off by a deluge of pissed-in containers he said he knew Slade would be loud, heavy and anthemically catchy enough to appeal to a few people at least. But he always says, even now, it really was an epiphany like moment and he's never witnessed anything quite like it, except maybe Queen at Live Aid. As James's video explains succinctly my late friend always enthused that they really did walk out on stage as well known but now considered past it old has-beens... but... left it an hour or so later - after the unprecedented multiple encores - simply as Gods.
Before I reached the end of this video, I was thinking, if Slade just played their "Slade Alive" set, the audience of heavy metal fans would love them. Slade were huge here in Australia. "Slade Alive" is in my top 5 favourite live albums, and I still listen to it to this day. I'll check out the Reading concert on Spotify.
Excellent documentary. I am so proud to be able to say that I was there along with the Irvine rock contingent. I was initially a doubter but in the back of my mind I remembered my much more musically talented brother saying that Slade were a bloody good band and my best mate Steven jumped straight onto the fun aspect of jumping around to the hits we had been growing up with. But I totally recognise everything this doc says about the almost magical visceral transformation in the mood of the crowd as if the general yawnfest that so much of the weekend had been up to that point was to prepare us for how a proper band remembered that we love to be entertained and if you make us feel good we will love you. I have been telling people about that set for the forty years sine and I am so very happy the memory wasn’t just a teenage delusion ❤
As an American, I stumbled across a couple Slade songs waaaaay after the fact, through TH-cam in the 2010s, and thought, "why the hell wasn't I hearing this great music in the 80's? Was it a British-only thing?" Then I searched out more Slade and was blown away. Love this band! Cool videos too, some escape me (like Run, Run Away with brawny men in kilts throwing logs, kilted schoolboys bagpipe band) but since the music is so awesome who cares? Loved how Slade featured that awesome violin! And bagpipes! And great guitar riffs! My oh my! Merry Christmas everybody!
Not at all surprised, I can recall reluctantly agreeing to accompanying a young lady who wanted to see a Slade concert about 1978. At the time being in late 20s I very much was into Led Zeppelin and The Who having seen them live several times and often listened to their records. On turning up I felt an absolute burke as it was full of young teeny-bopper girls, plus being tall I stood out like a sore thumb and in all ways, I truly dreaded what was to come. But to my surprise they started up with 'Born to be Wild' being one of my favourite songs and it just blew me away how good their version was, and so did the whole session because I too was soon stomping and clapping my hands to the numbers they played, even to a point the girl I was with, I could tell she thought I was embarrassing my self. I can't remember her at all, but remember SLADE. In my time I attended both Isle of Wight pop festivals and well recall the historic Who session, which was just mind-blowing and from 1969 to 1983 regular attended rock gigs and concerts and in all ways for pure enjoyment, money's worth and audience participation SLADE without any doubt were the best. But also musically, creating numbers that made you feel something and effected you , which obviously Merry Christmas did which will live forever. How Does It Feel, Everyday, and Darlin Be Home Soon are easily on par with Beatles and Bob Dylan in their emotive content and that for a hard rock band shows how good they were.
I was there. There were people near by saying they were crap and they shouldn't be playing here. Slade came on stage and plugged in . When they sparked up they were the loudest and best band of the whole weekend. Everyone new there songs and was singing along, including the people who thought they were crap. Great times.
I too was at this event, it was a very happy moment in my early life. Slade were better than all the accounts you read, you had to be part of it to feel the buzz, magnificent.
The only thing i knew about Slade up until watching this video was the Merry Christmas song. I have now just finished listening to the Reading gig.. and... _WOW_ ‼
@@taffyterrier yeah, it was good but I'm slightly biased because I'm not keen on live albums, so for my money it's Slayed. Certainly those early albums were the best, ONBB was good but not as raw as those early ones.
I was only 14 years old in 1980, but I live in Brazil and at the time I was getting to know Slade through the album Slayed, which I was delighted with. I really regret not having been able to witness such a fantastic performance by the greatest rock band in the world, and this is my opinion. Real rock, without frills, only Slade could do. It's a shame that they were so unfairly treated and didn't get the recognition they deserved. I'm absolutely certain that if Slade had come to Brazil in 1985, to the Rock km Rio festival, they would have stolen the show here too. Anyway, here's my testimony and I'm really moved and proud to have watched this brilliant video showing what Slade was capable of doing on stage. Greetings to all the fans around the world.
James, first of all, congratulations on this documentary, mate. t told me so much that I didn't know about Slade. I had no idea of their Reading gig, let alone how it transformed their fortunes. I was actually in tears listening to what happened there for them. I was never a fanatical admirer of them, but liked them as blokes having a grand old time, and playing their music, but I looked upon them as just a little group. This little documentary is a little gem, and made more so by your obvious affection for the boys. I wish you rainbows, my friend.
I hung out with a buncha music freaks who were big into any bands that were popular in the UK but never hit it big in the 'States, and Slade are one of the most outstanding examples.
It's one of those stories of genuine performers , who finally get the recognition they deserve . I thoroughly enjoyed this upload .congratulations to you for making an excellent video , & to slade for surviving the choppy seas of fame , to make it to the other side . I salute you
I first saw Slade in 1975 at King Hall Belle Vue Manchester and many times after that. and later worked 30+ years as a lighting tech on live shows No band i ever saw worked as hard on stage as Slade I last saw them in Dec 1980 at Rotters nightclub Manchester and they tore the roof off the place just like in 75 my pals who were not big Slade fans came out of the gig shocked at how good Slade were. Slade were and are my favourite all time band.
Here in the USA, I was never exposed to Slade growing up in the 70's. Started getting into metal in the 80's, one of my favorite bands in the early days was Quiet Riot. It was years later when I found out all their big songs were originally from Slade. I'll definitely check out that concert footage.
Like the comment before, eye got into Slade aside from my heavy metal friends via imports through our local vendor. This at a time when S.Texas ruled as metal capitol of the WORLD, briefly. Budgie and others had unprecedented airplay you could not buy today, but they and the particularly British heavy sound have always resonated with our distinctive culture.
I was a Coach driver in the 70/80s I took a gang of kids to Blackpool Locarno near the football ground they played there what a fantastic band! It was hammered I went up on the balcony didn’t stay long it was bouncing up and down to their beat and plaster was falling off the ceiling🤪🤪🤪!!! In that job I saw many bands and artists but Slade was really crazy a great band that would wake up the dead and have em bouncing everywhere with their music!!! Come on you lads 😳😳😳
Hi i was at that gig in Mecca by Blackpool FC as a young guitarist myself they were the Dogs ! I even bought an Orange” guitar amplifier after seeing them use them! Still the loudest gig ive ever seen …Born to be Wild ….wow
@@NBmusomanagree I’m an old man now reaching 80 but Slade they certainly made an impression on me a long lasting one a great band that got a bad press from their fans and their record producers along with those close to them🥵🥵🥵
That was great! Slade at the Glasgow Apollo in 1982 was the first concert I ever went to. Got dragged along by a friend, no idea what to expect, and loved the band ever since. Seen hundreds of bands since but very few come close
Great video! Always liked slade after I heard a live album and realised they were more than a pop band, they sounded great they were rockers and Noddy has a unique voice, powerful and rocky!! They deserved their success, a talented outfit.
I was there. Probably the most impressive performance I’ve ever seen from any band in 50 years. This was a proper magical moment. Slade beat all other bands there by a mile and illustrated how mediocre the new wave of British heavy metal was .
Rest in peace David Graham, my very good friend and friend to all hard core Slade fans. David was tireless in his promotion and work for Slade. Without David Graham and Dave Kemp Slade wouldn't have the profile they have now. Both very much missed.
Spot on. David Graham ensured that Slade can be enjoyed by younger generations and his frank and honest accounts really do provide an accurate memory of an outstanding band. Thr uber Slade fan has left a rich legacy of his own.
Great video, James. I'm listening to the Reading album as we speak and it's awesome! I've never heard Slade sounding so heavy. I can see why the Reading crowd were so won over. Thanks for all your research - it's wonderful that you include all these quotations from multiple sources in your videos.
Brings Profound Tears of Joy, and a Pulsing Heart !!! Always loved SLADE, and was lucky enough to have worked with the road crew, during the Canadian leg of their 1977 Tour. Those were trying times indeed, with Disco, Punk and Sugar-coated Top 40 all over the place... But, fond memories none the less - Long Live Rock `n Roll - Rock On !
I too was there. You've pretty much nailed what it was like to be there. I was at the front (as ever) and I remember the view before hand was 'Slade? as in the Slade from 10 years ago?' and an hour later screaming for Merry Christmas in August, which Noddy pointed out to us! Still one of the best gigs I've ever been to, the crowd (who had had their issues earlier) were suddenly one massive group of happy people bouncing around and singing like nutters. Wonderful to be there. Actually I liked the Def Leppard gig too, if I remember rightly it was their biggest gig so far, they were only teenagers at the time and were stunned at how big the audience was. Thank you for putting the video together.
I never had the privilege of seeing Slade live. I lived in Reading at the time and was 15. I could hear it all from my back garden. I knew Slade were playing from the local radio. From what I remember hearing they really did take it by storm and there was a buzz around town for a few days after. I liked Slade but my band was Status Quo and missed them there in 78 cos we went on holiday! They really did take their chance and hit the spot much like Queen did at Live Aid. Noddy's voice on these recordings was incredible and like Quo, audience participation was all part of the experience. Fantastic little documentary this 👍
I was there, and it was one of those things that stick with you forever. Slade were absolutely amazing. They took the place apart. 4 encores. For me it's one of my memories that will stick with me forever. A truly wonderful experience.
Saw them at 'that' gig at Earls Court in July 73... which confirmed them as the best live band ever. SAHB opened for them... it was, I believe, meant to be Queen but they cried of and SAHB got the gig. Alex worked hard and won over the audience, but there was no doubt why everyone was there the moment Slade hit the stage. The place was whipped into a frenzy in a matter of minutes, you could feel the whole building jumping around beneath your feet - I really thought the whole place would collapse around us. It was a double header for us - we were at Hammersmith the next night for Bowie's penultimate Ziggy show, and then a day or so later, Don Powell wrecked his car, leaving himself in a serious condition in hospital and 'out of action' for months afterwards. His girlfriend died in the accident. Mel Cornwell 22/01/2025
Brilliant video mate, really enjoyed watching it. And to think, around this time, Noddy Holder was up for the lead singer role in AC/DC after the death of Bon Scott.
I was there and I still have the EP they released from it . Absolutely bloody brilliant that day . There was a huge can lobbing fight erupted during the set so Slade played "When I'm dancing I aint fighting" and they all stopped trhrowing cans and started dancing with the rest of us . They owned the crowd that day .
I was there & I remember thinking how's this going to go down & I have to say that it truly was an amazing set I wasn't too far from the front & apart from Motorhead I've not heard a louder set. I was 17 then I'm 62 now still going to metal festivals and gigs.Reading 1980 was my 1st festival and Slade rocked 🤘🍺🎸🔥🤯
A legend of a group. Yes they are today remebered for "Merry Xmas Everybody" and being part of the glam rock era, but theres so much more to their story, their history. Noddy had the opportunity of being the lead singer of AC/DC after Bon Scott's untimely death, but said no out of loyalty to his band mates. Slade Alive is in my opinion one of the finest live performances ever to be put to tape, with an audience flying along with the band for the ride.
Odd that Slade are forgotten by the mainstream these days (apart from that song that gets played repeatedly around Xmas). But this is a band that had 6 UK number ones - at a time when the charts were really competitive. And (IMO) - they were a cracking good band - Noddy's wail, Jim's McCartney-esque baselines, Dave's.... alarming fringe.
Love Slade. I'm almost 65 now and blessed to have been a fan since I first heard them way back in the early 70s. Saw 'em live then too. At the Hammersmith Odeon (I'll never call it the Apollo, wank name) and even as recently their gig at the Classic Rock Weekend at Butlins, Minehead (in sunny January.k) Terrific live act.
I was there. That crowd was a vicious, monstrous beast, quite capable of turning on anybody or anything that earned their displeasure, the band Girl having been literally pelted offstage earlier simply for "looking a little bit poofy'. Slade could so easily have suffered a similar fate. We'd paid for Ozzy and the organisers were trying to palm us off with a bunch of old has-beens like Slade? I've seen some killer sets in my life but nothing has or will ever come close to the magic that I witnessed over the following 45 minutes. Slade were utterly, utterly magnificent and in the finest traditions of the performing arts they stole the show.
The only band all weekend that had the whole field on their feet. There was a lot of love for them on that day. Stole the festival.
I remember Girl being canned off the stage.
Girl we’re a brilliant band, just 5 years too early.
Def leppard didn’t fair too well either 🤣🤣
@@ianthomas4568 I would guess at the time Def Leppards guitarist Phil Collen was still in Girl as well.
I was there. I've seen around 2500 bands over the past 46 years. SLADE are still the best live band I ever saw and that Reading Gig is the best live set I've ever seen. I was one of the couple of hundred who were down the front when they started, as I was a SLADE fan anyway. The VLOG is a wonderfully accurate description of what happened that day. I'd gone to Reading festival with a mate and my brother. When SLADE were due on, I left them to go down the front. When I got back to them after the set, they were open-mouthed, not quite sure what they'd just witnessed. It was magical! Listening to the Vlog has brought a tear to my eye, remembering how proud I was that my favourite band showed 80,000 odd metalheads that they were the greatest live band they'd ever see. I felt sorry for Def Leppard. Follow that!!
Keep on Rockin'
Same... I don't even remember Def Leppard playing !
BS
BS, I was there, i didn't see you.
Thin Lizzy was the best live band I saw.
Some serious talent on that poster at 12:19, though it was a bit before my time. My first festival was Donington with Quo, Hawkwind and Gillan. 82 I think.
Hats off to David Graham, the ultimate Slade fan and archivist, who was responsible for much of the content in this documentary. David sadly passed away in 2024.
I very much agree with you.
When Noddy let's loose, there's noone quite like him, his voice is beyond epic.
Monster singer
Ozzy agrees.
Nod the God
Agreed. It’s naturally the way he sings. He went for a check up about his throat and his doctor asked him how long he had been singing like that. He told him all his life, at which the doctor said something like oh you’ll be alright then.😂
What an outstanding presentation and story. Great work James. Wonderfully presented.
I think Slade In Flame is the best movie drama with an actual band playing a fictional band
And best Slade song "How Does It Feel"
@@barchetta2112 One of the greatest songs ever written according to Noel Gallagher, he has good taste.
One of the UKs finest bands. Thank you for putting this video together, a great tribute for a great band.
when my daughter was at primary school in the late 1990's, all her friends knew all the members of Westlife, Take That and whatever boy bands were out there. MY daughter could name all four members of Slade from the cover of Slayed. Attagirl.
I’m surprised you weren’t reported to social services 😂
@@spotcatsteve3752 LOL
This is engrained on my memory. I was one of the "detractors" utterly blown away by their performance. I had no idea, however, how important that show was to them as well! Awesome!😊
Saw them a few months later at Coventry Poly in March 81 at the height of 2 Tone. I was a student there and had seen The Specials, Selector, Madness as well as U2 on the Boy Tour plus Echo and The Bunnymen and numerous new wave NME bands of choice. Slade packed the place out and were the best I'd seen by a comfortable distance.
Saw them in October 1980 at Brum uni and they still remain one of the best bands I've seen.
I wasn’t there but heavy metal friends of mine were and told me the following week that it was an incredible moment. As told here, they were part of the crowd who were walking away and on hearing Slade stopped and rushed back to the stage. A feel good moment listening to this. Slade were part of my early teen years and every time I hear a Slade track it transports me back. Thank you.
I was there, up the front, couldn't believe my luck that Slade were on. My favourite band.
Dave was tuning up (again). I shouted "It's close enough!". Noddy repeated that on the mic. to him.
That moment made it onto the "Six of the Best" live at Reading EP. My moment of fame.😂
I was never a Slade fan in the 1970s, it just wasn’t my type of music. I forget what year it was but sometime in the early 1980s I went to Donnington monsters of rock and Slade were on the bill. I thought oh no! Everyone was sitting down drinking from 2 litre plastic bottles of beer and lager. Then the time came, Slade were announced and I thought oh god! They came onto the stage and within 30 seconds of the first song, everyone was up and leaping about. Then seconds later all the empty beer bottles started to be thrown up in the air, not at the stage. It was like a swarm of bees and they never stopped flying until the band went off. Biggest cheer of the day for Slade and I was grinning from ear to ear. What an absolutely stunning live band they are. Now I will hear no wrong about Slade. They were awesome. 👍🏻😃
@@alexhamilton4084 1982. They came on after Blue Oyster Cult were boo’d off stage. I was there too. Epic.
@@tonyhalsall3170 You're right they were after BOC - I'm a BOC fan but there's was an awful set - but it was 1981. AC/DC headlining, Whiltesnake 2nd on the bill. Blackfoot were on that year too
@@kevinkilner2388 you may well be right. The early 80’s was a long time ago. I do remember that AC/DC topped the bill and the fireworks were great. More so, I remember Slade quite literally slaying it after Blue Oyster Cult.
@@tonyhalsall3170 82 was Quo with Gillan. Hawkwind (another of my favourite bands) did a BOC that day too.... Don't I pick them 🤣
yep, a soggy afternoon and they blew the rest away. I've never seen so many bottles of piss thrown around the crowd 🤣
That was a very enjoyable watch and many thanks for your mention of David Graham and his SIE page... David did so much for the Slade community in his constant drive to get the band greater acclaim...He is sadly missed...Many thanks.
The contribution of David Graham is immense. His passing has left a huge hole in the Slade fan world.
@WendyHowse-ne9op I agree Wendy... This video is very well put together and I look forward to future presentations.
As the shows producer, also manager at that time of Marquee club, I had already experienced the talents of Slade having taken a chance with them playing the Marquee so I had no hesitation in booking them as a replacement act when we lost the services of ozzie Osborne that year. Chas Chandler, being a friend from his days with the Animals, & at this time their manager didn't have too hard a job of pleading me for the gig. We all won that day! 😉😉
You kicked a goal that day Jack. Lovely to see you comment here as well. Adds some more colour to a vibrant video above.
Finally we have a name to the legend of Slade at Reading! A wise decision
Awsome Mate!!...WELL DONE!!.
@@barchetta2112 "My uncle has a country place... that we have assumed control."
@@mbba23 Got me bang to rights.
I too was there! I was part of a group of 15 or so people who drove down from North Wales in a Sherpa van with no back seats! When we arrived security told us that Slade were replaceing Ozzy - I was not disappointed but most of the rest of the group were! "Slade? They're crap" was one of the nicer phrases! I wasn't having that - I was a secret fan and even then still had the "Slade in Flame - it's only a film" T-Shirt. On the afternoon Paul and I went down to near the front and we had the time of our lives. I remember Noddy shouting something like ' we done them all - what do you wanna hear?.... Merry Christmas? But it's the bloody middle of Summer - at least tha's what I think he said - but play it they did. Brilliant! I don't remember any other band that weekend - it was over 40 years ago and things did get hazy for us teenagers for various reasons!
Actually the crowd were yelling for it and he was telling them to get stuffed (only not so politely) pointing out it was August. "You want it? YOU sing it!"
I saw them a couple more times, as they were neighbours geographically, and they were underrated, because of the Glam Rock image. But they weren't "The Best Band Ever" as some are claiming. Reading audiences were not very well informed, musically, being mainly pimply adolescents, so of course they had never heard a decent band! Which is why Gallagher and Slade blew them away
I was there as well, and the initial skepticism of the crowd quickly turned round to manic support. Real performers they knew how to work a crowd. I might be mixing up my Reading festivals but I think Def Leopard topped the bill after Slade at got a very rough ride, most folks thought they had run off to the states and abandoned their core fans. Anyway, that might be the memory and my diet at the time playing tricks on me
Well done Slade... always had a soft spot for them.
Wonderful piece of history done by them and you buddy.
This was broadcast on BBC Radio 1 live. I had just bought my first home, hence no more partying, it was Sunday evening, I didn't have the spare cash, so I did my ironing, to the radio.
I had prioritised buying a telephone, over having a TV, so the Wireless was my source of entertainment.
Tommy Vance was his usual assured self, and the bands were "average to boring", they all were so serious, and then came a breath of fresh air, Slade, and they were BRILLIANT.
They were so vibrant compared to anyone who had played earlier, and finished it off in style, in the middle of August ~So here it is Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun"
And it was clear they were, having fun.
I WORKED THIS FESTIVAL BACKSTAGE, IT WAS BLOODY AMAZING.
Happy to say that I was there! One of the few who stayed when they were announced, as the others disappeared! I was there with me mates to see Leopard, but I ended up seeing the greatest gig I’d ever been too!
I grew up with them in the 70s, and here they were, brilliant!!!
Thanks for sharing this with your supporters James! Long live Slade!🤟
So you and I have something in common, something most people can't say.
We saw Def Leppard back when the drummer had both of his arms.
Glad you have put this out, it really was one of those pivotal moments in a Bands career, and everyone who witnessed it.
I have not read all the comments yet, so maybe this has already been said, but it really was like a massive party, and one of the things that sticks in my mind is people climbing up the big marquees and literally sliding down, flying off the end and if they were lucky getting caught by the rest of the crowd.
Great remembering such a great time.
Thanks
I was there and it was better than you described.
We refused to let Slade leave the stage and Reading always were dead strict with bands not leaving on time. The normal response would have been turning the power off and lights but, the organisers knew there would probably have been a riot if the did that so the band were allowed to leave when they and us in the crowd were ready.
I used to go the Reading every year but after that I knew it would never be the same again. So I never went back.
Was at reading that year and to say they absolutely stormed it is a understatement,I’ve never ever seen a band turn a crowd around in the space of 30 mins from wtf are they doing here to all the crowd singing merry Christmas in the August sunshine….ozzy was soon forgotten once they hit the stage
Nice
I was also there... and to be honest, no written or spoken words could ever do justice to just how good Slade were that day... (...and the atmosphere that they alone created)
We truly were honoured to have witnessed something that remarkable...
🙂
I was there in front of the stage just feet away from Noddy when they started their set with "Hello everybody, are you alright, GET DOWN AND GET WITH IT . . . "
Thankyou SO MUCH for such a brilliant documentary!! 🎉❤. SLADE we're one of the first 'Pop' bands l ever listened to. In 1971 l was 12 and up until then l was only supposed to listen to classical music!...so it was a pretty big deal suddenly being exposed to songs like 'Jean Geni' by David Bowie, 'Get it on' by T Rex' an' C'mon Feel the Noise' by Slade!!. And my nick name at school was Noddy!! 😂😅, which at the time l disliked, but in retrospect...maybe l should have been PROUD!...After all...he was, and still is...one of my ROCK & ROLL HEROES!!!.
So Thanks once again Sir, for bringing back some wonderful, priceless memories of child in to adult memories for me!!!.
What a fab documentary, thank you very much. I really enjoyed it. The thing is if you've got talent & work very hard you get very good. I have had the good fortune of doing odd jobs as a kid for Slade i.e. changing Jimmy Lees 15" speakers in his SNS cabs at Modern music in Dudley when i was still at school back in mid seventies.
Jim bought me a Pork sandwich from the shop next door.
I only saw them once at the Greyhound track Momore Green Wolverhampton in 1980 as I'd got to know some of the crew JJ, Johnny Jones ( Big mates with his brother Brian).
Slade where a fantastic live act. If you have not seen them you will never understand. Have a listen to Slade alive on a good stereo system turned up, it will give you some idea, and if your in a band try playing " Know who you are " it's great song & there's more to it than you first hear but very powerful. Thanks again. Rob
They played the Monsters Of Rock the following year and blew everyone of the stage, they were brilliant.
Used to work for NJF (National Jazz Festival) Marquee who organised the annual August 3 day festival.
Ozzy was originally billed, but cancelled at the last minute.
Can't remember if it was Jack Barrie (Manager / Artist Booking of the Marquee Club in London) or Howard Pendleton (Founder / Owner of the Marquee Club) who contacted Chas, but the lads turned up without a road crew, so we're acting as their own Roadies.
Remember the crowd just grew as the hits kept playing. For their encore, I remember the bog rolls were tossed by the stage crew over the back line, absolute magic. Merry Christmas in August will go down in history.
Noddy was so taken by the crowd, he came front stage to feel the atmosphere shake hands with the punters and watch Def Leopard on stage A. He was swigging from a bottle of Tequila, by the time he left there wasn't much left and he needed to be helped back to his back stage caravan!
Great memories.
Crackin' band.
FYI Jack Barrie has posted just now. I guess you know him. Cheers.
This is the second reference to 'bog rolls' seen in the comments- while a fan of Slade outside of my friends at the time, am not familiar with this expression. A little help?
@@HelenRundell‘bog roll’ is a uk slang word for toilet rolls. Reading festival at the time was famous for the audience throwing whatever they could get their hands on at acts they didn’t like and probably even some they did like.
@@zappasmoustache23 thanks for the distinction, can now rest easier tonight. Much better than Google, lol. Am so jazzed over this content, thanks.
@zappasmoustache23 So true. If an act wasn't pleasing the audience, empty beer cans or plastic bottles would be hurled towards the stage. The unsavoury part was when plastic bottles were thrown with the top off, consequently showering the audience below with its contents. The really unsavoury bit was if the hurler had decided to urinate into the bottle first. As the audience was free standing, position to front of stage was key, ie first come first served. So walking to the bogs (toilets) was considered inconvenient due to possible loss of position.
In order to quell or address any of these throwers, if spotted, we had a small group of Belgium bikers who would jump the front stage barriers and wonder over to that section of the crowd, despite their limited knowledge of the English language, their 'diplomatic skills' were enough to quell any future repeats!
I was there. This doesn't come close to describing the animosity felt towards Slade. I was at the front just to yell at them, there were "f**k off Slade" banners, flying, I doubt anyone cheered when they came on apart from anything else it wouldn't have been safe, the crowd was that hostile. But they turned everything around, just did their thing brilliantly. I was 15 at the time I am 60 now and still get goosebumps remembering that afternoon.
Serendipity is probably the word for this event. I'd bought Slade's single, Sign of the Times, in '79, and it'd had to be ordered. It was so overlooked that it wasn't stocked, and that was only 5 or 6 years after they'd been the biggest band in England. The song was great, but subdued, and only the heavy, raucous B-side, Not Tonight Josephine, gave a hint that Slade still had energy to spare. Tommy Vance's encouragement must've helped the lads, because TV was the centre of the rock music world at the time - The Friday Rock Show was essential listening. And Slade made history again with their renaissance at Reading '80.
The headliners and special guests weren't actually heavy metal per se - Rory Gallagher, Gillan, UFO and Whitesnake, with Budgie a little closer to HM - but these were all energetic, heavy-rocking acts. You could tell from the way Noddy had the audience enthusiastically singing and clapping along to When I'm Dancing I Ain't Fighting, a song most of them had never heard before, that Slade were winning. It was a lovely turnaround for four down-to-earth guys. Although Gillan, UFO and Whitesnake were three of my favourite bands (still are), I was happy that Slade were the most-discussed band of the festival! This was almost a foretaste of Queen at Live Aid in '85.
Can you imagine if slade had played Live Aid....
@@andymurray9811: Yes, an oversight. Thin Lizzy as well.
@@andymurray9811 It's criminal that they weren't asked. W*nker Geldolf. I watched the whole of Live Aid thinking Slade would wipe the floor with this lot.
@@andymurray9811 They would have blown them all off stage even Queen, i have seen every big band live since 67, and no band has come close to Slade live.
I know basic rock history quite well,but this was new to me.I´m so glad.A great band,and what I´ve read,very nice people too.Hats off!
Slade are great but this doco and narration are terrific. Congrats, Sir. Keep it up.
A dear friend of mine dragged me to the Mayfair Newcastle to see Slade , I dreaded it. In 25 years of seeing some of the greats there Slade were the best and held the record of paying customers thru the doors ........ Live and Electric and pure JOY.
yup.....82 ish....I was there too Ben.....fabulous night
A great video on a great band. I grew up listening to Led Zepellin, Genesis, Yes, and Pink Floyd thanks to my uncle, who was more like an older brother due to our age differences. Slade was one of the first bands I started listening to and buying records of my choice. The only regret I have is being too young to see them live in the 1970s. I finally saw them live on their Till Deaf Do Us Part tour and what a fantastic concert it was.
I saw Slade in the late 70's and their live set was something to behold. Instead of belting out their many 70's Pop Hits they played a heavy set more akin to their Slade Alive Album which was simply amazing. Great Live Band !
Sounds like a precursor to the Reading performance
I do love Slade when they were at their peak. Noddy's voice is as recognisable and inspiring Their music is always fun and so good in the catchy, memorable and strong hooks. One of THE most underrated rock bands ever who deserves a lot of love.
I was there age 15 and Slade was my favourite band of the whole weekend, I will never forget it!
In the late 70s I was working as a chef at a university hall of residence in Sheffield. Each year they held a 'Hall Ball' with live bands. One year it was Mick Hucknall with 'Frantic Elevators' just before he broke with Simply Red. A previous year maybe 77 or 78 it was SLADE. They nearly blew the windows out. Absolutely brilliant. They used our staff room all day and kept coming in the kitchen to nick food but they were a good laugh. I saw them again at Butlins Skegness for the MCN (Motorcycle News) weekender. All bikers in a packed club and SLADE giving it like they always do. Still the best live band I've ever seen with some great records.
Their hard rock version of "Darling Be Home Soon" was one of the greatest rock covers ever.
I saw Slade at an upstate NY University in 73(?), the opening act was Elf with Ronnie Padanova (Dio) on lead vocals. And there standing in the gymnasium was Chas Chandler. Not many people there but Holder screamed for us to all stand up, so we did. What a night!
Padavona
When I first started to roadie and tour in the late 80's a dear mate who is sadly no longer with us and who was quite a bit older than me told me this story (many times!) as Slade were always his fave band. He'd decided to go to Reading just as a punter but knowing many of the crew had heard the rumour that Slade were replacing Ozzy so he was well up for it and thought, or maybe hoped, as most people would know the hits a good few would maybe nod along in an appreciative almost nostalgic manner. Although bands could easily get bottled off by a deluge of pissed-in containers he said he knew Slade would be loud, heavy and anthemically catchy enough to appeal to a few people at least. But he always says, even now, it really was an epiphany like moment and he's never witnessed anything quite like it, except maybe Queen at Live Aid. As James's video explains succinctly my late friend always enthused that they really did walk out on stage as well known but now considered past it old has-beens... but... left it an hour or so later - after the unprecedented multiple encores - simply as Gods.
Before I reached the end of this video, I was thinking, if Slade just played their "Slade Alive" set, the audience of heavy metal fans would love them. Slade were huge here in Australia. "Slade Alive" is in my top 5 favourite live albums, and I still listen to it to this day. I'll check out the Reading concert on Spotify.
A real heartwarming tale!
Excellent documentary. I am so proud to be able to say that I was there along with the Irvine rock contingent. I was initially a doubter but in the back of my mind I remembered my much more musically talented brother saying that Slade were a bloody good band and my best mate Steven jumped straight onto the fun aspect of jumping around to the hits we had been growing up with. But I totally recognise everything this doc says about the almost magical visceral transformation in the mood of the crowd as if the general yawnfest that so much of the weekend had been up to that point was to prepare us for how a proper band remembered that we love to be entertained and if you make us feel good we will love you. I have been telling people about that set for the forty years sine and I am so very happy the memory wasn’t just a teenage delusion ❤
As an American, I stumbled across a couple Slade songs waaaaay after the fact, through TH-cam in the 2010s, and thought, "why the hell wasn't I hearing this great music in the 80's? Was it a British-only thing?" Then I searched out more Slade and was blown away. Love this band! Cool videos too, some escape me (like Run, Run Away with brawny men in kilts throwing logs, kilted schoolboys bagpipe band) but since the music is so awesome who cares? Loved how Slade featured that awesome violin! And bagpipes! And great guitar riffs! My oh my! Merry Christmas everybody!
Not at all surprised, I can recall reluctantly agreeing to accompanying a young lady who wanted to see a Slade concert about 1978. At the time being in late 20s I very much was into Led Zeppelin and The Who having seen them live several times and often listened to their records. On turning up I felt an absolute burke as it was full of young teeny-bopper girls, plus being tall I stood out like a sore thumb and in all ways, I truly dreaded what was to come.
But to my surprise they started up with 'Born to be Wild' being one of my favourite songs and it just blew me away how good their version was, and so did the whole session because I too was soon stomping and clapping my hands to the numbers they played, even to a point the girl I was with, I could tell she thought I was embarrassing my self. I can't remember her at all, but remember SLADE.
In my time I attended both Isle of Wight pop festivals and well recall the historic Who session, which was just mind-blowing and from 1969 to 1983 regular attended rock gigs and concerts and in all ways for pure enjoyment, money's worth and audience participation SLADE without any doubt were the best.
But also musically, creating numbers that made you feel something and effected you , which obviously Merry Christmas did which will live forever. How Does It Feel, Everyday, and Darlin Be Home Soon are easily on par with Beatles and Bob Dylan in their emotive content and that for a hard rock band shows how good they were.
Great to see a proper video on youtube again. Thanks a million.
Best YT watch for a long time, thank you for a well put together video 👍👏🙌
I was there. There were people near by saying they were crap and they shouldn't be playing here. Slade came on stage and plugged in . When they sparked up they were the loudest and best band of the whole weekend. Everyone new there songs and was singing along, including the people who thought they were crap. Great times.
I too was at this event, it was a very happy moment in my early life. Slade were better than all the accounts you read, you had to be part of it to feel the buzz, magnificent.
That was a really great watch James - thanks for the research and the video
Glad you enjoyed it
David Graham did a superb job in compiling the Slade video archive and sharing his knowledge of the band,
The only thing i knew about Slade up until watching this video was the Merry Christmas song. I have now just finished listening to the Reading gig.. and... _WOW_ ‼
Watch the Slade in Flame 🎬. You may enjoy it.
Get Slayed, their 1972 album pop it on the turntable or in the slot and turn the volume upppppp. One of the greatest rock albums ever
@@michaelchallen The previous album ‘Slade Alive!’ was arguably even better.
@@taffyterrier
Most rock historians consider it to be the greatest live rock album of all time, and I gotta agree with them on that one.
@@taffyterrier yeah, it was good but I'm slightly biased because I'm not keen on live albums, so for my money it's Slayed. Certainly those early albums were the best, ONBB was good but not as raw as those early ones.
I saw Slade in Aberystwyth in 1983, the best live band I have seen
Yep. Not many play at Aberystwyth! However, I hear that it's a great place to score crack these days.
Another quality video James! Always loved Slade. Cheers!
I was there! They smashed it and slayed all the "heavy" bands! Noddy kept saying "Turn it up Charlie!" They we're brilliant! Legends, great rock band!
Charlie Newnham. Slade’s front of house sound man. Legend
@@AlanGoldberg Thanks, nice one. Completes the story!
What a story! Going to have to watch footage from the gig now.
Good luck finding some. There have been rumours for years it was recorded on film. If so, I don't think it's ever surfaced sadly
Great video about a great band. Thanks brother! Stoked to see a human made/narrated video.
I was only 14 years old in 1980, but I live in Brazil and at the time I was getting to know Slade through the album Slayed, which I was delighted with. I really regret not having been able to witness such a fantastic performance by the greatest rock band in the world, and this is my opinion. Real rock, without frills, only Slade could do. It's a shame that they were so unfairly treated and didn't get the recognition they deserved. I'm absolutely certain that if Slade had come to Brazil in 1985, to the Rock km Rio festival, they would have stolen the show here too. Anyway, here's my testimony and I'm really moved and proud to have watched this brilliant video showing what Slade was capable of doing on stage. Greetings to all the fans around the world.
Great video James, your best to date!
Thanks 👍
Slade...one of the very best British bands there has ever been.
NOT!
@@billstill1794 Did you ever see them live ?.
James, first of all, congratulations on this documentary, mate. t told me so much that I didn't know about Slade.
I had no idea of their Reading gig, let alone how it transformed their fortunes.
I was actually in tears listening to what happened there for them.
I was never a fanatical admirer of them, but liked them as blokes having a grand old time, and playing their music, but I looked upon them as just a little group.
This little documentary is a little gem, and made more so by your obvious affection for the boys.
I wish you rainbows, my friend.
Cool to see you give some love to Slade! 🤘💯☮
Mint band
I hung out with a buncha music freaks who were big into any bands that were popular in the UK but never hit it big in the 'States, and Slade are one of the most outstanding examples.
Great vlog Slade was amazing back in the day.
It's one of those stories of genuine performers , who finally get the recognition they deserve .
I thoroughly enjoyed this upload .congratulations to you for making an excellent video , & to slade for surviving the choppy seas of fame , to make it to the other side . I salute you
Just to paraphrase a little, you're a Slade fan for life, not just for Christmas.
I first saw Slade in 1975 at King Hall Belle Vue Manchester and many times after that. and later worked 30+ years as a lighting tech on live shows No band i ever saw worked as hard on stage as Slade I last saw them in Dec 1980 at Rotters nightclub Manchester and they tore the roof off the place just like in 75 my pals who were not big Slade fans came out of the gig shocked at how good Slade were. Slade were and are my favourite all time band.
Was at the Rotters gig. Fantastic. Played the Apollo a while later
I was at Belle Vue 74 and 75 also Rotters Dec 80, Slade always went down a storm even in the clubs
Here in the USA, I was never exposed to Slade growing up in the 70's. Started getting into metal in the 80's, one of my favorite bands in the early days was Quiet Riot. It was years later when I found out all their big songs were originally from Slade. I'll definitely check out that concert footage.
About to say the exact same thing.
Like the comment before, eye got into Slade aside from my heavy metal friends via imports through our local vendor. This at a time when S.Texas ruled as metal capitol of the WORLD, briefly. Budgie and others had unprecedented airplay you could not buy today, but they and the particularly British heavy sound have always resonated with our distinctive culture.
God I hate Quiet Riot.
And young people, especially young people.
Peace.
@MicMc539 58 is young ?? Gee thanks 👍
@ Huh! You can probably still get it up.
Wind up my Gramophone and go outside and play!
What an awesome video!! One of my favorite RnR stories! Very well done!! Cheers!!
I was a Coach driver in the 70/80s I took a gang of kids to Blackpool Locarno near the football ground they played there what a fantastic band!
It was hammered I went up on the balcony didn’t stay long it was bouncing up and down to their beat and plaster was falling off the ceiling🤪🤪🤪!!!
In that job I saw many bands and artists but Slade was really crazy a great band that would wake up the dead and have em bouncing everywhere with their music!!!
Come on you lads 😳😳😳
Hi i was at that gig in Mecca by Blackpool FC as a young guitarist myself they were the Dogs ! I even bought an Orange” guitar amplifier after seeing them use
them! Still the loudest gig ive ever seen …Born to be Wild ….wow
@@NBmusomanagree I’m an old man now reaching 80 but Slade they certainly made an impression on me a long lasting one a great band that got a bad press from their fans and their record producers along with those close to them🥵🥵🥵
Saw Slade in Norwich 1972/3 supported by Status Quo. Brutally loud band and really good hard rock band.
I saw them in Norwich in I think 1980 in a little club in Anglia Square. Still bloody loud, still a brilliant live band.
That was great! Slade at the Glasgow Apollo in 1982 was the first concert I ever went to. Got dragged along by a friend, no idea what to expect, and loved the band ever since. Seen hundreds of bands since but very few come close
I was also there, left for the bus drenched in sweat.
I still have my Slade Alive vinyl - great album
Great video! Always liked slade after I heard a live album and realised they were more than a pop band, they sounded great they were rockers and Noddy has a unique voice, powerful and rocky!! They deserved their success, a talented outfit.
I was there. Probably the most impressive performance I’ve ever seen from any band in 50 years. This was a proper magical moment. Slade beat all other bands there by a mile and illustrated how mediocre the new wave of British heavy metal was .
Great documentary, thanks for uploading this.
Rest in peace David Graham, my very good friend and friend to all hard core Slade fans. David was tireless in his promotion and work for Slade.
Without David Graham and Dave Kemp Slade wouldn't have the profile they have now. Both very much missed.
Spot on. David Graham ensured that Slade can be enjoyed by younger generations and his frank and honest accounts really do provide an accurate memory of an outstanding band. Thr uber Slade fan has left a rich legacy of his own.
Great video, James. I'm listening to the Reading album as we speak and it's awesome! I've never heard Slade sounding so heavy. I can see why the Reading crowd were so won over. Thanks for all your research - it's wonderful that you include all these quotations from multiple sources in your videos.
Brings Profound Tears of Joy, and a Pulsing Heart !!!
Always loved SLADE, and was lucky enough to have worked with the road crew, during the Canadian leg of their 1977 Tour.
Those were trying times indeed, with Disco, Punk and Sugar-coated Top 40 all over the place... But, fond memories none the less - Long Live Rock `n Roll - Rock On !
Really enjoyed this. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent vid. I didn't know this. Now that I've listened to the Reading performance i can see why they got the reaction.
I too was there. You've pretty much nailed what it was like to be there. I was at the front (as ever) and I remember the view before hand was 'Slade? as in the Slade from 10 years ago?' and an hour later screaming for Merry Christmas in August, which Noddy pointed out to us! Still one of the best gigs I've ever been to, the crowd (who had had their issues earlier) were suddenly one massive group of happy people bouncing around and singing like nutters. Wonderful to be there. Actually I liked the Def Leppard gig too, if I remember rightly it was their biggest gig so far, they were only teenagers at the time and were stunned at how big the audience was. Thank you for putting the video together.
I never had the privilege of seeing Slade live. I lived in Reading at the time and was 15. I could hear it all from my back garden. I knew Slade were playing from the local radio. From what I remember hearing they really did take it by storm and there was a buzz around town for a few days after. I liked Slade but my band was Status Quo and missed them there in 78 cos we went on holiday! They really did take their chance and hit the spot much like Queen did at Live Aid. Noddy's voice on these recordings was incredible and like Quo, audience participation was all part of the experience. Fantastic little documentary this 👍
A wonderful story. I loved this. 👍
I was at the festival too, we all knew Slade's stuff but they blew the place apart live. Made the weekend.
I was there, and it was one of those things that stick with you forever. Slade were absolutely amazing. They took the place apart. 4 encores. For me it's one of my memories that will stick with me forever. A truly wonderful experience.
Wow this was really great thanx james I always love your show and good luck to your band
Thanks 😎🎸🍻
What an awesome, amazing video!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!
Saw them at 'that' gig at Earls Court in July 73... which confirmed them as the best live band ever. SAHB opened for them... it was, I believe, meant to be Queen but they cried of and SAHB got the gig. Alex worked hard and won over the audience, but there was no doubt why everyone was there the moment Slade hit the stage. The place was whipped into a frenzy in a matter of minutes, you could feel the whole building jumping around beneath your feet - I really thought the whole place would collapse around us. It was a double header for us - we were at Hammersmith the next night for Bowie's penultimate Ziggy show, and then a day or so later, Don Powell wrecked his car, leaving himself in a serious condition in hospital and 'out of action' for months afterwards. His girlfriend died in the accident. Mel Cornwell 22/01/2025
Brilliant video mate, really enjoyed watching it.
And to think, around this time, Noddy Holder was up for the lead singer role in AC/DC after the death of Bon Scott.
I was there and I still have the EP they released from it . Absolutely bloody brilliant that day . There was a huge can lobbing fight erupted during the set so Slade played "When I'm dancing I aint fighting" and they all stopped trhrowing cans and started dancing with the rest of us . They owned the crowd that day .
Slade had the greatest front man in Nod.
I was there & I remember thinking how's this going to go down & I have to say that it truly was an amazing set I wasn't too far from the front & apart from Motorhead I've not heard a louder set. I was 17 then I'm 62 now still going to metal festivals and gigs.Reading 1980 was my 1st festival and Slade rocked 🤘🍺🎸🔥🤯
Brilliant appraisal sir ...Really enjoyed this.
Big Thank You. 👍
Many thanks
Loved this band, been there since 71, and still love their brand of music.
A legend of a group.
Yes they are today remebered for "Merry Xmas Everybody" and being part of the glam rock era, but theres so much more to their story, their history.
Noddy had the opportunity of being the lead singer of AC/DC after Bon Scott's untimely death, but said no out of loyalty to his band mates.
Slade Alive is in my opinion one of the finest live performances ever to be put to tape, with an audience flying along with the band for the ride.
The beginning of the end (even though it was Noddy's pension fund).
Odd that Slade are forgotten by the mainstream these days (apart from that song that gets played repeatedly around Xmas).
But this is a band that had 6 UK number ones - at a time when the charts were really competitive.
And (IMO) - they were a cracking good band - Noddy's wail, Jim's McCartney-esque baselines, Dave's.... alarming fringe.
Mid-70's Slade were HUGE! 'How Does It Feel' 7" single was the first record I ever bought... I still have it.
Love Slade. I'm almost 65 now and blessed to have been a fan since I first heard them way back in the early 70s. Saw 'em live then too. At the Hammersmith Odeon (I'll never call it the Apollo, wank name) and even as recently their gig at the Classic Rock Weekend at Butlins, Minehead (in sunny January.k) Terrific live act.
That was one fantastic weekend and Slade killed it, what a performance......