search for something...

search for something you might like...

Whatever Happened To Slade? Daryl Easlea produces the first in depth look at the iconic band in 30 years

Whatever Happened To Slade?

Daryl Easlea produces the first in depth look at the iconic band in 30 years

by Ancient Champion, Columnist
first published: August, 2023

approximate reading time: minutes

They were from the Black Country, maybe that made Slade's piss boil like few bands ever did.

Slade Book CoverWHATEVER HAPPENED TO SLADE - When the Whole World Went Crazee
Daryl Easlea
Omnibus Press
Published October 12th, 2023

Whatever happened to Slade? Nod of course, is now a national treasure. Some Might Say a sometimes somewhat grumpy one. The band's early 70s discography went on to become Oasis’ first LP. Everything else you want to know about Slade is documented in the forthcoming book, Whatever Happened to Slade - When the Whole World Went Crazee by acclaimed rock journalist, Daryl Easlea, published on October 12th by Omnibus. 

I’m not going to do too many did you knows here, but what you did know is supplemented by way more you need to know about one of the biggest and most iconic groups in the history of pop music in the UK. At their commercial height, Slade’s singles jumped straight to the top of the charts on their week of release, when so few did that we might as well say no one did it. On the way to number one the single Skweeze Me Pleeze Me sold 300,000 copies on it's first week of release. And people are hanging onto it, you never see Skweeze Me Pleeze Me in charity shops alongside the other slop. They were really without peer, although Wizzard, Sweet and Mud had a go. But they just weren’t hard enough. None of them were former skinheads who tore up the West Midlands with Get Down and Get With It. Slade were like a commercially viable Edgar Broughton Band.

Daryl Easlea quantifies the qualities that allowed the original quartet of Dave Hill, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea and Don Powell to endure long after their stock in trade glam rock realm subsided. There’s so much more to Slade than the annual beloved teeth pulling 'Merry Xmas Everybody', that custom SuperYob guitar or Noddy Holder’s mirrored hat.

Whenever they appeared on Top of the Pops my dad thought they were unreal puppets created by Gerry Anderson. They were from the Black Country, maybe that made Slade's piss boil like few bands ever did. What about their movie, Slade in Flame, why isn’t that on like channel 73 every week or something? Gritty. Could teach that Baz Lurhman dude a thing or two about pop icon creative fiction. 

Whatever Happened To Slade? is the first serious biography of the group in over three decades. It details the complete story of this singular band, as well as the personal histories of the four individuals who combined to turn Slade into a genuine phenomenon. 

After years in music retail, author Daryl Easlea began writing professionally in 1999 and became the deputy editor of Record Collector in 2000. He remains a regular contributor to the magazine, and was appointed editor of The Rare Record Price Guide in 2022. He also writes for MOJO and Prog. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Uncut, The Independent and The Glasgow Herald among others.

Whatever Happened To Slade? will be available in October and although it is only August, this is not even the first ‘getting a gift for grandad for Christmas’ product we have seen this week. It's almost too perfect isn't it? The book, the christmas single on the radio and in the rocking chair dad'll be dozing off in no time.

To be revisited in October I guess when it’s Oxford Bags and platform shoes hit the streets.


Essential information
Pre Order with a free gift here

Ancient Champion
Columnist

Ancient Champion writes for OUTSIDELEFT while relentlessly recording and releasing instrumental easy listening music for difficult people. The Champ is working on Public Transport, a new short story collection that takes up where 2021's Six Stories About Motoring Nowhere (Disco City Books) left off. It should be ready in time for the summer holidays. More info at AncientChampion.com


about Ancient Champion »»

Pete Williams web banner

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Pete Williams, outsideleft night out
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone