My Life

I was born in Paddington, London, in 1960. For my first 23 years I lived at home with my parents in Ingham Rd, West Hampstead.

I went to a small secondary school in Marylebone, in London's West End. It was fairly un-eventful except for when an old pupil called Barry Green hit the big time with a new name, as popstar Barry Blue in 1973. At school I was a friend of John Barnes - who found fame as a footballer with Liverpool FC and England. Also, I clashed with the senior, chubby, art student, Stuart Goddard, who slimmed down and became Adam Ant.

Now? I am married to Barbara and have twin children Jack and Lana who were born in 1999. None of them are into Slade at all really. Therefore I don't get much chance to play my Slade CDs or look at my old videos. (When I play Slade my son says the same words "Can you turn that off? It's very annoying!")

However, my young daughter is in to creating her own fashion. She isn't into mass fashion - and wearing the clothes that all her friends wear. She likes retro items - and is very impressed by Dave Hill's style. (I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing!)

Also, just recently I loaded some Slade albums onto Jack's ipod - in the hope that he would at some stage listen to some of the tracks. It has worked. He now actually plays two songs - "Good Golly Miss Molly" and "Born To Be Wild" - which he loves.

I took the kids to see Slade 2 last year (2009). They loved the show - I just wished that they could have been around to see the band when the original foursome were still together.

In 2003 we relocated to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. I never thought that I would leave North West London - but I don't regret it at all. My kids have a great life in the country. However I commute into "the smoke" daily for work - and spend about four hours a day travelling. That's the price I have to pay for home life solace! I manage to use some of my travelling time creating this website.

Why Slade?

I became interested in music at a young age. In the 1960's I loved the Monkees TV show. My nan bought me my first ever single - which was by them - "Alternate Title" in 1967. At the age of 7 years  I saw them, at my first ever concert, at the Wembley Empire Pool in London. As I was a member of the Monkees Fan Club I held aloft my Fan Club poster at the gig. I was sitting in the very last row of the arena and thought the band could see it.

The first single I purchased for myself was "Apeman" by The Kinks in 1970. Loved the song - but the band's image didn't do anything for me. They were "old" men!

In 1971 I have vague recollection of hearing "Get Down and Get With It" but nothing more than that. This song became a Slade anthem - but at the time of release I can only barely remember hearing it. 

I really liked "Coz I Luv You" but didn't buy it. I think this was because the song mentioned the word "love" - and with me being a macho 11 year old - didn't want to go into a record shop and buy a cissy love song! (Amazing but true).

I didn't get to buy  "Look Wot You Dun" either. I distinctly remember listening to the BBC chart countdown every Sunday when I was in the bath (i.e. bath night) and recall the single being stuck at number 4 in the charts for several weeks. I wished it would go higher! Also, I remember being intrigued by the promo video filmed at Chessington Zoo - with Don "eating" one of the dead mackerel that was due to be fed to the penguins. I just never got round to buying the song.

The first single I got to purchase was "Take Me Bak 'Ome" in 1972. I'd seen the band on a London Weekend Television (LWT) show called "2G's and the Pop People" (an hour long show that featured music and dance routines by the 2nd Generation Dance troupe). It was shown on 10th June 1972 and featured Slade along Labi Siffre, Lulu, the Bee Gees and ELO - but obviously Slade stole the show. Looking back it was a cheesy performance as Slade performed alongside girly lookalikes of themselves from the dance group. (The girls wore replica Slade clobber). Noddy was wearing his flat cap and Dave Hill was glittered up. They rocked and I was hooked!

To see this performance you can check it out You Tube. Click here.

At this time I was ill with tonsillitis and sent my Dad out to buy the single. Even with my illness I couldn't wait for him to come home with the record. I played it, and played it, over and over again...it drove him mad!

I bought every single after "Bak 'Ome". I would listen religiously to the Rosko show on Radio One - as he was the guy that the band trusted with the first play of their new releases. Then on each release day, I would buy the disc from Manzi's Records in Swiss Cottage - which I knew was a "chart" shop. The shop owner, Eugene Manzi, would always put a copy aside for me - as he knew I'd be in to collect it.

After buying each record I would rush home - eager to get it played. On the bus I would inspect all details printed on the label and every etching on the trail out part of the record.

I scoured Record Mirror, Disc and Sounds magazines weekly for news on the band. I kept cuttings and awaited their performances on Top Of The Pops. I found out all I could about this band from Wolverhampton. Unlike girl fans who dreamed of snogging Nod or marrying Dave Hill, my desire was simply to one day meet this band of goons and for them to know my name. (Little did I know that this would in a few short years actually happen).

I supposed now, years on, I'm still a fan.

I don't really have any interest in seeing the "new" Slade (2) - made up of Dave and Don.  I'm waiting for the original foursome to get back together. And boy have I been waiting. But anything can happen. They boys are still all alive (how many 70's bands, such as The Sweet and Mud,  have lost members to drink and drugs?).

Just last year Madness re-formed (all 7 original members) and made the album of the year (The Liberty of Norton Folgate).....and despite all their differences both Spandau and the Duranies have reformed. So I'm waiting - but not holding my breath! 

Wouldn't it be just great if a promoter could come along with enough cash to encourage the band to do, say, as series of UK gigs at Christmas? Maybe to coincide the band could issue (another) Greatest Hits compliation - with just a couple of new tunes thrown in for good measure?

I'm sure that they could re-capture the Christmas market if they got back together in their original line-up. I would be there at every gig - and I'm sure lots of other would too....

Click here to checkout my sister website:- www.sladescrapbook.com