NME Poll Awards Show - Wembley Empire Pool - 1973
I had just turned 13 and this was my first ever Slade concert in February 1973.
Slade were at the height of their career. "Cum On Feel The Noize" was sitting on top of the charts. The 10,000 seater venue sold out within hours (I got tickets as my Dad queued up at Wembley on the day they came on sale). An extra performance in the early afternoon was also added.
My memories of the gig are vague, because the gig was such a long time ago. However I remember Slade coming on stage in their famous clobber:- Nod - Red shirt, tartan trousers, red and yellow stripy socks. Dave - Gypsy look. Mirrored headscarf, and round mirrored black jacket, silver leather trousers and silver boots. Jim - his glittery red suit! Don - Black, white and silver striped waistcoat and trousers.
I also recall that the support band, called Home (who were voted the Best British Newcomers) were given a particularly bad time by the crowd. You could hardly hear Home play over the jeering and slow hand-claps from the crowd!
Slade were presented with a silver cup for Best British Band - and Don was carrying his giant magnum Vodka bottle (filled with water).
The gig was interrupted by stoppages. Slade had to leave the stage several times due to the audience in the stalls standing and pushing forward. Seats were smashed by the surging crowd and kids at the front were getting crushed and pulled by bouncers to safety. DJ Rosko was the introducer - who worked the crowd up into a frenzy (like in the Flame movie). During the stoppages he kept urging the crowd to move back. He said that if they didn't the show wouldn't be able to continue.
To see the NME review of the show - please click here.
Hammersmith Odeon - 17 May April 1974 - Slade's Crazee Nite Tour
Slade had residency at the Odeon for three nights.
I went to their second performance on the Friday night and sat on the balcony.
(I have my letter from the Hammersmith Odeon - to say that I was sucessful in getting tickets. To see it click here.)
Before the gig the roadies organised the Slade Look Alike contest.
I remember some of the roadies being in the foyer before the show. They stopped some of the crowd, (basically the best looking half a dozen girls who were wearing Nod or Dave type outfits) and asked if they wanted to be in the competition.
The fans chosen were then paraded on stage and the crowd were asked to cheer for the one they thought was best as each one stepped forward. Haden Donovan stood behind a clapometer (as used in Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks) - and moved it manually to show the audience reaction. Undoubtedly it was fixed - so that whichever girl the roadies considered the prettiest (or who had the biggest boobs) won! The competition, and show, was introduced by Greg Edwards from Capital Radio ( a bizarre choice as he later majored in soul music - and wasn't in to glam at all!)
Nod wore his black and white tartan ensamble with mirrored top hat. Dave had a white cat suit with red glittery shoulder and cuff pads and his famous red $ platform boots, Jim had a blue jacket and cropped trouser suit, with blue platform boots and Don......well I can't remember what Don had on - I couldn't see him too well!
I remember sheer pandamonium being caused by one male fan. He got so caught up in the atmosphere that he decided to dance, unsupported, on the small wall on the balcony. Yes - the wall in front of Row 1 of the balcony. I was thinking for a couple of minutes "He's gonna fall, he's gonna fall" until some bouncers came and dragged him down!
(Remember, the year before (1973) Slade were banned from ever playing the London Palladium again - when fans actually cracked the balcony with their stomping!)
Slade had re-designed the stage. Behind them they created two illuminated staircases that led to an upper raised level. Dave and Jim would go chasing up there - with the roadies following to untangle their guitar leads as they "crossed over".
Also, they built three gangplanks, over the orchestra pit, into the crowd. Nod, Jim and Dave used these to get closer to the audience. The manager of the Odeon was so impressed by this idea that he kept the gangplanks in place for several years later - so that other bands could use them.
I purchased my Slade Crazee Nite Tour brochure on the way out of the gig. I was well impressed with it - was this the first time that Slade had actually produced their own official tour programmes? It was far better than the fake ones that were being sold outside the venue.
I went home on the underground and was amazed at how many mini Noddys had gone to the gig. This was definately the year Slade fans dressed up. (To see more photos of Slade fans at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1974 - click here .)
New Victoria Theatre, London - 25 & 26 April 1975
I went to both Slade shows. This were their farewell gigs before "emigrating" to the States for 2 years. I queued up in person to get my tickets when they came on sale. I arrived at the New Victoria at 8am in the morning and was way down the queue. The best seats that I got was for the Saturday gig - when I was in sixth row. It didn't matter too much - everyone got up from the seats and pushed forward a few numbers in. I had pockets full of glitter and stood in front of Dave at the barrier. As soon as he came close - I showered him in glitter.
There was no crushing in the audience - as in previous years. The crowd was a lot calmer. My pen-pal Ruth Manderson told me that at the Edinburgh gig on this tour it was as wild as ever. Everyone stood on their seats - hers and lots of others smashed. However, the Edinburgh gig didn't quite sell out. The London ones just about did.
The Saturday gig was recorded on Charlie Newnham's mixing desk by Radio One and broadcast the following month on the Insight show (after the Sunday chart countdown).
The band were as hot as ever - I loved the rendition of "How Does It Feel". It was an eerie performance with a glitter ball spotlighted sending reflections around the venue.
I remember seeing Lynsey De Paul at the gig. She was the partner of Chas at the time and was there looking after his young son Steffan. I saw them leaving the gig - and Steffan was dressed as a mini Noddy - wearing a mirrored top hat!
The Music Machine, Camden Town - 1979
I loved the Music Machine gigs in the 1979 and 1980. However, when I went to the venue for the first time I was very nervous. I'd caught a bus to Camden High Street and asked directions of a few people. Everyone was saying "Don't go there - unless you want to get stabbed". The venue had a bad reputation - it had previously been an old style theatre - but was now a punk club. Drugs were offered to you every time that you went in the loss for a pee!
However, when I got into the venue I loved it. It was big - with standing downstairs and a high stage. The were several balconies with seats - you got a good view from everywhere you stood.
Slade packed the place out. A couple of hundred kids were turned away. Slade went down a storm. It was really hot in there. Intimate and packed to the rafters. Slade's guests would stand on their own private balcony to the (right) as you looked at the stage. I liked this spot - but I went to mingle with the fans in "the pit".
At this gig I stood, as usual, in front of Jim on the left side of audience (as you looked at the stage). I'd taken 3 girls from work with me. They were surprised when Jim suddenly noticed them with me in the crowd - he said between songs over the mike "Hi Dave Kemp". Everyone stared at me - and the girls were impressed.
The only downside of the gig was that after the show the band's truck parked up next to the stage exit in Mornington Crescent. While the roadies loaded the gear Nod's guitar was stolen. It was thought that the guitar had been put down by the door and a passer by just nicked it. Nod was not happy - the whole tone of the after-party drinks changed.
However, me, Don and girls wanted to drink. I introduced Don to a late night restaurant Emmanuelle's that I knew in the Finchley Road at Swiss Cottage - it wasn't far from where we both lived in West Hampstead. They had no late night drink licence - so they served us up two teapots. One was full of wine and the other full of Vodka and tonic. Don was amazed. He stayed for a few hours. Don liked the place so much that we went back there several times after London gigs.
The Wolverhampton Fiesta - 31 May 1981
I really enjoyed the Wolverhampton Fiesta gig in 1981. It followed on from the band's success the previous year at the Reading Festival and was arranged by the local council at the Ladbroke Stadium, Monmore Green.
I travelled to Wolverhampton on the Saturday (the day before the gig) with Don's girlfriend Carol - and we stayed at Don's parent's house. We went with them and Don's brother Derek to the gig.
It was wierd - an outdoor festival in Wolverhampton. There were about 7,000 fans there - so it must rank as Slade's biggest ever gig in their home town. Slade topped the bill and were supported by Diamond Head and The Eric Bell Band.
A young French girl called Laurent Lesage (aged 17) got all the attention at the gig. Whilst I was in Slade's dressing room before the gig - she was ushered in. She had written to the Wolverhampton Council saying what a fan that she was - and that she'd never met the band. The council said that if she arranged travel to the UK - they'd get her to meet the band.
It was an interesting meeting - as she was really shy and couldn't speak a word of English. She was a big Dave Hill fan - and as soon as she was introduced to him she just hugged him tight....and smiled - with seductive French eyes! (Dave always loved that sort of thing!)
The gig was good and tight. All the families and freinds were there. I remember meeting Jim and Louise's big mates Ross and Marg - who I'd heard about, but never actually met. I have no recollection however of where I stood/sat during the gig. However, I do remember being next to Don's mum Dora who, as usual, brought plugs for her ears and put them in before the show started. She offered me some - but I declined!
The after-party was very unusual. The band decided to go against tradition - and didn't have the party in their "local" The Trumpet. Instead they arranged the do at an upmarket wine bar that was in the Brittania Hotel......
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