Summer 1973. This is where my liking for Slade went to another level. It was the school summer holidays. I was 13 and playing football in the local park.

All the local kids knew that I liked Slade.

A friend named Joana Dasso approached me and said something like "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be down Swiss Cottage?"

"Why?" I shrugged.

"Because Slade are staying in the Holiday Inn. Didn't you see it on the news last night?"

Apparently hundreds of kids had found out that Slade were staying there, as the were preparing for the Earl's Court gig at the weekend. Word had spread like wildfire. When the band  returned by cab to the hotel on Wednesday afternoon - a pack of kids were waiting and chased them into the hotel. The band were shocked, and so were the hotel management - who suddenly had to cope with loads of unruly kids in their forecourt.

Within minutes of being told I was on the bus with my mate David Davensac to Swiss Cottage - which was just 5 minutes away.

Yes. What I was told had been true. Scores of kids were perched on the wall opposite the foyer and there were a couple of policemen trying to keep control. The kids had turned up from all over North London. I remember speaking to kids from Kilburn, Kentish Town and Camden.

I remember seeing the manager of the hotel trying to keep order. He was also in the local newspapers that evening demanding that Slade leave the hotel. Chas Chandler insisted that they had done no wrong - and they would not budge.

However, I was initially in deep water with the fans. Although I had a couple of canvas Slade patches on my jeans (one of Noddy in Top Hat and one of all four Slade members - bought from Woolworths) I also had a Marc Bolan patch - and this didn't go down too well. This was until I used my knowledge of the band to convince the Slade fans of my allegiance to the cause!

Me and David chatted to the kids for several hours - but nothing was seen of Slade. We found out that the band's suites were numbered 329 and 330. If we were to get into the hotel they were the rooms that we had to make our way too (God - how do I remember this stuff?). 

Eventually, David decided to go home for tea - but being so excited that "my" band were in the neighbourhood, I stayed on.

One of the policemen on duty let everyone know that Noddy was waving from his hotel room window - round the back of the hotel. I thought this was strange - and as the kids moved round the back, I stayed by myself at the front. I soon saw a black cab disappear to the underground car park. I followed it down and met with Don, Jim and his wife Louise, who were getting into the cab. Obviously Nod had been acting as a decoy. I was over the moon - running alongside the cab waving and talking to Don and Jim.

Later that day I saw Nod - who left in a car from the underground car park. He had been hiding on the floor of the cab - and popped up as soon as he was past all the fans.

The next day was fruitless as I waited on the wall outside the hotel entrance. I could see through the plate glass windows a guy who looked a bit like Jim enter the restaurant. I thought it would be fun to mention that it was Jim to a couple of girls. Next thing I knew they were screaming and clamouring over the windows. It was Jim! And I'd caused a commotion. The hotel manager was later out front complaining about everyone smearing his freshly cleaned windows!

For Press reports of the Holiday Inn events click here and here.

My mates had missed out on seeing Slade and I had done it. They were even more upset a few weeks later when another friend Chris Dancy picked up Popswap magazine a few weeks later. In the centre pages was a picture of all the kids outside the hotel. Although not a great shot - you could just about work out me in the picture.

My Holiday Inn experience was ruined however. I remember seeing Don's white Bentley parked in the underground car park. Unfortunately some kids who'd seen it decided to scrawl messages all over the car in lipstick and some chose rip the window screen wipers off to keep as souvenirs.  The car was repaired and just days later he crashed it in Wolverhampton. A crash that almost cost Don his life....

I wondered for years if the accident had somehow been caused by the actions of the fans. (For press reports of Don's crash click here and also here.)

The Return Of Don Powell

Don made his return to the public eye on Sunday 12 August 1973 at a Radio One Fun Day organised at Brands Hatch Race Track. I think this was the first "Fun Day" that was organised - and was followed numerous similar summer events for years later. It was Chas's decision that Slade and Don should attend - it was to be a way to ease Don back in to the limelight.

I didn't go but I heard the broadcast on the radio. It was just over four weeks since Don's accident. He appeared with his shaven head showing his hair growing back and carried a walking stick. Also in attendance with Slade were Suzi Quatro and Geordie.

There was a display race which was won by Graham Hill. He was presented with a nominal trophy and did a lap of honour on an open top vehicle - accompanied by Slade.

When the band got off the vehicle fans got over the barriers and on to the racetrack - and set chase. Poor Don couldn't run - and the other members had to help him into the safe haven of the stadium.

Two years later, in 1975, things had turned around with the Radio One "Fun Days". An event took place at Mallory Park in the Midlands on 18 May 1975. Slade attended but their appearance was totally overshadowed by the Bay City Rollers. The Rollers landed by helicopter on an island in the middle of the park. In their determination to meet the band, hundreds of girls decided to swim across the water - only to find they started to drown as their Roller tartan scarves (tied round their wrists) became sodden and heavy! Slade were almost completely ignored….

 

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