Slade band: from rock and roll to heavy metal

Slade is a British rock band, one of the leaders of the glam rock of the 70s. The musicians began their journey in 1964, but the group received its final name only by the end of the 60's. Their manager was himself Chas Chandler, at that time a former member of The Animals. In the early 70's the group already had a reputation as one of the best musical groups of the time.

Composition

The group was formed as a result of the emergence of a union of musicians from several bands: The Vendors and Steve Brett & The Mavericks. Its participants were:

• Noddy Holder (vocalist and rhythm guitarist);
• Jim Lee (bass guitar, violin, keys);
• Dave Hill (guitar);
• Don Powell (drums).

Originally musicians performed in pubs of the British outback. Then they arranged well-known songs in the style of rock and roll. A popular repertoire in their performance was a collection of songs "The Beatles". Chees Chandler discovered the group in 1969. At that time, the musicians called themselves Ambrose Slade.

Chandler decided to take the cardinal style of the new group. The musicians were short-cut, dressed in leather boots and tight denim pants. Soon the group received a contract with the firm Polydor. At the same time, its name also declined. The first single was the arrangement of rhythm and blues Bobby Marchan Get Down And Get With It. She hit the mark, and soon the musicians were in the British charts.

To get a closer look at the work of the legendary band, it's worth considering their popular albums, as well as unsuccessful experiments.

First steps

The debut album Beginnings was a mixture of songs of his own composition, as well as covers and instrumental variations. He also became the first unsuccessful attempt of rockers to declare themselves to the musical community. Then the band members looked like football fans. Later, this will warm up the interest of critics.

The next album - Play It Loud - was also not recognized by wide circles of fans of heavy music. However, he became a guide in the development of the team. The band Slade began to perform music in a more rigid style. The emphasis was on making concert performances. Also, the outfits of musicians have changed.

In the following years, Slade, whose discography began to replenish with new singles, more and more often fell into the national charts.

Popular albums

The best albums that are popular to this day are the collections of songs from 1971-1976. Then their songs were occupied by the tops of the British charts. The first live album was Alive !. Chandler suggested recording it live, realizing that the musicians quickly gain public attention in their performances.

The next album is Slayed? - was released by the end of 1972. He stayed at the top of the British charts for 34 weeks. Most critics consider him the best. The album includes 10 songs, 6 of them were written by the Holder-Lee tandem.

Sladest - so called the next popular album Slade. The fifth album was the best collection of songs released between 1969 and 1973. Having got into the top national hit parade, he knocked out the legendary The Rolling Stones from there.

In the same year 1974 another album was released. It's called Old New Borrowed And Blue. Included in the songs are calm and thoughtful. Here, for the first time, the piano part sounds.

By the time Slade In Flame was released, the band had become one of the most popular rock bands. The album was tied to a project to create a feature film, in which the musicians played themselves. However, the success of the Beatles, who once did the same, the band could not repeat Slade.

When recording the new Nobody's Fool album, the musicians tried to take into account the remarks that were made in their address on the American radio. They softened the sound of the daring rock'n'roll and modded reggae a bit.

The period of failure

In the late 70's, Britain was drowned in a punk-rock rush. The Slade band was unclaimed. Since 1977, interest in rock and roll has faded. By 1980, the sound of the band's songs began to approach the glamorous heavy metal.

In the period from 1976 to 1991, the following albums were released:

• Whatever Happened To Slade? - the album, which became the first in a series of unclaimed works of the group (1977).
• Return to base - the songs acquired a more melodic sound (1979).
• We'll Bring the House Down - the album came out almost 2 years after the previous one (1981).
• Slade on Stage (1982).
• The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983).
• Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984).
• Rogues gallery (1985).
• You Boyz Make Big Noize is the last album recorded with Holder's voice (1987).

In 1991, Noddy Holder decided to leave the band. Soon after him followed Jim Lee. These two belonged to most of the songs written by the musicians. Don Powell and Dave Hill attracted new members and continued to release albums. From 1991 to 1997, they even changed the name of the band - Slade II. However, then again the usual Slade was returned. A rock band without the old vocalist began to sound less difficult.

In 1994, with the new vocalist Steve Welly, the musicians released the album Keep on Rockin. It included only the hits of the group. The band did not release more studio recordings. Despite all the setbacks, Slade is firmly rooted in the subconscious of every connoisseur of melodic rock. The songs of the Slade band are a tribute to the memory of the old rock'n'roll and an attempt to modernize it.