Here you go.... Just to make your day - a topless H Hill pic - from the beach in Saundersfoot, Wales in 1981!

Hiya Dave,
I don't know how I,ve missed your website, unless it's fairly new. I, like yourself am a massive Slade fan, and they were such a huge part of my life in the seventies and eighties. My childhood memories are related to what single was out at the time, or what album. I was born in 62 in hull, so I was a bit young to see them around the 71-74 period when they were at the height of their fame, but saw them 6 times between 76 and 83, the best of which were the Donnington festival which the lads absolutely stormed, the Mayfair in Newcastle in 81 which was a renowned heavy metal venue, and a little gig at a pub near chesterfield called the Shoulder of Mutton. I also saw them twice in hull, and at the city hall in Newcastle when they recorded 'Slade on Stage'.

Noddy has always been my hero and im really envious that youve met him. His stage presence, and voice make him by far the best live singer I,ve ever seen (Ian Gillan would have been the next best) and he just comes across as so genuine and intelligent. I really wished he'd made a solo accoustic album after The Grimleys. I'm going to see the new Slade at Cheltenham, but Im prepared to be disappointed although I'll give Don and Dave and the two new boys my support.
My wife is long suffering like yours, and it's difficult for people to understand the uniqueness of supporting Slade. I support Hull City and Liverpool, and supporting Slade was the same as supporting a football team. Once bitten, you're there for life. I like AC/DC and Oasis and a few blues bands but they just aren't the same. I know you know what I mean from reading your website.

Anyway if you want to stay in touch, I'm always happy to banter. Got a dog this year for the first time in my life. Of course he's called Noddy !!

Cheers Col


AND>>>

Hi again Dave.

Didn't know about the 'Evening with Nod' things, I'm on it now, will let you know how I get on.

That gig at the pub near Chesterfield (Hardstoft to be precise) was Xmas when My Oh My was at no.2 in the charts. 500 tickets were sold and 500 more pushed in making it a thousand in a pretty small venue. the place was wrecked. I went back 15 years later for a pub meal and the guy behind the bar had started his first nite 15 years earlier on the Slade night. It was a legendary night that had not gone down too well with the locals. I live in Worcs now in a town called Evesham.

Cheers pal
Col

Dave,
I'm Tony from just outside of Toronto, Canada.

A night of Slade hits BBC4 on Friday 21 December 2012

9pm - It's Slade (Documentary)
9.50pm - Slade@The BBC (Introduced by Noddy Holder)
10.50pm Slade In Flame (Feature Film)

Thanks to Gary Jordan for organising this!

Merry christmas everybody year and highest chart positions: 
73=1
80=70
81=32
82=67
83=20
84=47
85=48
86=71
89=99
90=93
98=30
06-21
07-20
08-32
09-41
10-50
11-33
12-35 currently
Mxe has spent a total of 70 weeks on the charts and has reached the top 30 in the 70s 80s 90s and naughties! The download era has given it a new lease of life, this is the 7th year in a row that its charted!
THANKS - JOHN GIBBINGS FOR THE INFO!

Noddy at the CAFT Xmas Ball last week....

Merry Xmas Everybody - originally released in December 1973 - is back in the UK Charts. This week it's No35 and sure to go higher in the next couple of weeks....

ITV 22.12.2012: The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song

 Saturday, 22 December 2012, 7:00PM - 8:30PM 

PRESS RELEASE - Thanks to Monika Kahle
 
Everyone loves a great tune to get them in the festive spirit, and this yuletide special counts down the top 20 of the nation’s most popular Christmas songs, as voted for in a nationwide survey of ITV viewers.

Featuring hits such as Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, Band Aid's Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Fairytale of New York by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey and Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, this 90 minute documentary tells the stories behind these ever-popular seasonal favourites. 

Contributors including Chris Rea, Johnny Mathis, Sir Cliff Richard, Jona Lewie, Paul Young, Aled Jones,Noddy Holder, Shane MacGowan, Greg Lake, Alexandra Burke and Katherine Jenkins all give their views on what makes a great festive tune.
..
The Nation’s Favourite Christmas Song is produced by Shiver. Kerry Allison is the producer and Mark Robinson is the executive producer."

("Merry Xmas Everybody" currently No80 in the UK Charts - and set to go higher next week).

I have now received the full and final dates for the Noddy Holder "Evening with...." shows in 2013.

The additional dates I have not mentioned are:
May 16 - Leeds City Varities and May 17 - Redditch Palace Theatre.

The full dates are therefore:

MAY 2013

Thurs 9 - Oakengates Theatre, Telford 01952 382 382
Fri 10 - Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre (part of Buxton Opera House) 0845 127 2190
Sat 11 - Gala Theatre, Durham 0191 332 4041
Sun 12 - Bolton Albert Halls 01204 334 400
Thurs 16 - Leeds City Varieties 0113 243 0808 NEW DATE!!
Fri 17 - Redditch Palace Theatre 01527 652 03 NEW DATE!!!
Sat 18 - Charter Theatre, Preston 0844 844 7710
Sun 19 - Harrowgate Theatre 01423 502 116

I understand that Noddy is attending the charity event of the CAFT Xmas Ball - this Saturday 8 December at 7pm. The event takes place at the Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Knutsford. Tickets are £70 and other celebrity guests include Sir Bobby Charlton, Lee Boardman