My Friend Stan vs. Daydreamer (David Cassidy)

Jim once told me that when Slade were about to release "My Friend Stan" that Chas took a call from David Cassidy's management team.

Team Cassidy were concerned that the pimply pop star had organised a promotional trip to the UK to promote  his next release "Daydreamer". However, they had found out that Slade were due to put out "My Friend Stan" around the same time. They were concerned that David would be kept off No1 and it might become something of a wasted trip.

Financial incentives were therefore offered to Slade to change their release date by a few weeks. Without even considering matters Chas confirmed that Slade wouldn't budge - and the two acts would therefore go head-to-head.

(Chas had good reason not to budge as Slade had massive sales with their last two singles "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me", both of which had entered the charts at No1.)

However, as it transpired, "My Friend Stan" was a very much a change of style for Slade and it only entered the chart at the "lowly" No.3 position, climbing the following week to it's peak position of No.2.

Cassidy, actually released a week after Slade. He  promoted "Daydreamer" on the same 500th Top Of The Pops special as Slade - with footage showing him landing a private jet at Heathrow and performing on the tarmac. His song got to No1!

Chas's simultaneous release plan

In 1973 Slade for the first time entered the charts straight at No1 with "Cum On Feel The Noize". They were in a position of power and were having the biggest sales in their career.

Chas came up with the idea that they should record three or four new singles and release them week after week. This would mean that they would have their records entering the charts at No1, only to be knocked off the following week by another of their new records, and so on.

Chas argued that this would make history with an achievement surpassing all feats created by the Beatles. However, the group were undecided by the plan and after much discussion it didn't go ahead!

Don's 1974 party

Don had a house warming party at his flat in Platts Lane, Hampstead in 1974.

Slade were always big buddies with Queen, and they attended the party. Don and his parents both recalled the same story to me that Freddie Mercury was shocked with Don's catering arrangements.

Don had provided paper cups and plates and plastic cutlery for the guests. Freddie screamed "Don't you know that I only eat off china plates?". He searched Don's kitchen cupboards for more suitable eating equitment!

Although Freddie was a diva - he took a shining to Don and at the party kept throwing himself on his back! Chasing Don around his flat like a Benny Hill sketch.

Dr Rob Buckman

Don appeared on the ITV show "Don't Ask Me" with Dr Robert Buckman in 1981 discussing his car crash and his amnesia.

Don and Rob got on really well and talked privately about his amnesia. Rob persuaded Don to see a hypontheraphist who could "put him under" and talk through the events of the crash. Don took up the suggestion and returned home with a cassette tape of the conversation in the hypnosis session. The tape provided him with some answers to what had happened that evening.

(The hypnotherapist was American Gil Boyne, and the story was reported in the Sunday People on 21 September 1981. At the time it was claimed that Don was subsequently cured of his amensia, although this was not true).

Dave and Jan's wedding

Dave and Jan married in Tijuana, Mexico in 1974. I think it happened when the band were on a break from touring - and Dave and Jan drove down to Mexico.

Chas didn't like the fact that Dave had got married - as it might put off girl fans from liking the band. Therefore there was a "block" on him talking about it. I remember that Alison Hillmen from Wigan had worked it out early on - she saw an article in the Sunday People that showed Dave's new house in Solihull.   He was sharing his round bath with a "friend". Alison used her magnifying glass and could see the wedding ring on the lady's finger. If she wasn't married to Dave - then what married man would have let his wife share a bath with Dave?

It made Dave's comments, at the time,  about his suggested marriage, quote, "I might sing "Mama Weer All Crazee Now - but I'm not that crazy!" nonsense.

Jim's and the personalised number plate

I remember a guy contacted Jim to advise that he had the personalised car number plate JWL 1. He said that he would be prepared to sell this to Jim - and asked if they could discuss a fee.

Jim said to me that he had enough difficulty not drawing attention to himself when he went out. So why on earth would he want to draw more attention to himself with a personalised plate? So he advised the guy where to go.

He is obviously a very different character to Dave Hill (who used the YOB 1 plate for years)!

Don's phone number problem

When Don moved to London he had problem with a certain very enthusiastic fan finding out his personal home telephone number (even though it was Ex Directory).

He was pleasant when the lady first called him - but she started to call every day. He therefore contacted the Telephone Exchange and asked them to change the number.

It was with surprise that the very next day the girl in question called him again - on his new number. She asked why he had changed his number.....and he enquired how she had found the new number out so quickly?

It transpired that she worked for British Telecom!

The number that Don ended up with in London for many years was most appropriate. It ended with the digits "1971" - the year of Slade's first hit single and their first No.1  How apt!

When Gold is not Gold

Do you know that Slade's Gold Discs are not what they seem?

Dave's Dad was curious play the Gold Disc Dave had received for the "Flame" album. On the label it showed six tracks on Side One - but the disc itself showed there were seven tracks.

He took the Disc out of the frame and played it. Would you believe it wasn't even Slade. Polydor had used an old James Last album (who was also signed to Polydor) to spray Gold and present to Dave!

The only good bit of news was that Jack Hill actually liked James Last - so he was quite pleased to have one of his albums - for free!

On the downside, I had to sit through listening to the album once. (And once was enough).

 

 

Slade Wives in Bank Hold-Up

When Slade first emigrated to the USA in 1975 there was a news story that the Slade wives (Leandra, Louise and Jan) were involved in a bank hold-up in New York.

I was uncertain as to the truth of this story. But Louise Lea confirmed to me in 1978 that this was absolutely genuine. The wives went through the ordeal in their first few days and were shocked at their introduction to New York!

Why Slade got a Daimler

Jim told me a story about the DISC Music Awards 1972.

Slade had been voted Best British Band and were due to attend the Award Event on a Boat moored on the Thames.

As they approached the boat they saw Rod Stewart arrive, chauffeur driven in a Rolls Royce. Maggie Bell also turned up in a flash car.

Slade were in their, not so plush, trusty Granada. They felt embarrassed. So they decided to pull up further on. They discretely walked back to the Boat when the coast was clear. Nobody could see that they'd travelled in their Granada.

Shortly after the band decided to invest a Daimler, for travel more becoming to Britain's Top Band….

 

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