ODDS AND SODS
Little snippets of information that you might not have heard before...
My Friend Stan vs. Daydreamer
Me, on the train, returning from the Reading '80 triumph
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!
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!
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
Promoting "The Bangin' Man" at the Serpentine - 1974
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.
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).
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 1973 Wedding
Dave with fan Linda Garbutt, Wolverhampton Civic - 1978
Dave and Jan married in Tijuana, Mexico in 1973.
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.
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 and the personalised number plates
Jim with his cars at Redroofs - 1974
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)!
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!
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
With Flame Gold Disc - at Jack's house 1980
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).
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!
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!
Dame Vera Lynn
One of the idols Slade managed to meet was Dame Vera Lynn. She attended the Melody Maker Music Awards on 1 March 1973 at The Savoy Hotel in London. Dave Hill especially was thrilled to meet her - his Dad, Jack, was a big fan.
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….
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….
Getting Slade banned from Capital Radio - 1976
In 1976 Capital Radio in London would broadcast a daily countdown of the Top Ten songs - as voted by the Capital Radio listeners. Basically, the public had to ring an answerphone and cast their vote by leaving a message detailing the song they most liked.
A Capital DJ would then play and countdown the Top Ten Songs between 5pm and 6pm each day - finishing with the No1. just before 6pm.
When Slade released "Let's Call It Quits", in February 1976, my mate Raj Advani and I thought that it would be great if the record could get in Capital's Top Ten. We would give the record a little help. We decided to take matters into our own hands ........ and voted scores of times each day!
We were both still at school and would use the public phone boxes at Marylebone Station on the way to school, in the morning break, at lunchtime and after school. Each call cost 2p in those days (and we would change up about £1 each day morning into 2p's - ready for the day's calls).
We soon got the record into the Capital Top Ten. It went higher and higher as we voted more and more. It eventually got stuck at No.2 - trailing to C W McCall's (awful) song "Convoy".
Matters then became an obsession - we were voting every spare moment that we had (and I was also running up a large bill on the home phone too). We were trying everything to get the record to No.1. We would call the message line and use all different types of accents (so that we didn't get caught out - as each listener was only allowed to vote once per day). I became a master of voting for Slade in Cockney, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Brummie, Geordie, Scouse and even Jamaican accents!
However, me and Raj weren't that good - we did eventually get found out. This wasn't suprising - Capital must have been wondering why the record was being voted for so much by the public - especially as they weren't buying it in the shops. (The single only peaked at No.11 based on sales).
One day the DJ on Capital announced that the record was now banned - as Slade's record company had been caught out as being "under-hand". Well, it wasn't the record company making all the calls - it was me and Raj!
I wrote to the DJ admitting guilt -but the Drive Time Show wouldn't budge. They had banned the record and that was that! I was gutted - but at least I now had money to spend on lunch every day and not starve myself.....
A Capital DJ would then play and countdown the Top Ten Songs between 5pm and 6pm each day - finishing with the No1. just before 6pm.
When Slade released "Let's Call It Quits", in February 1976, my mate Raj Advani and I thought that it would be great if the record could get in Capital's Top Ten. We would give the record a little help. We decided to take matters into our own hands ........ and voted scores of times each day!
We were both still at school and would use the public phone boxes at Marylebone Station on the way to school, in the morning break, at lunchtime and after school. Each call cost 2p in those days (and we would change up about £1 each day morning into 2p's - ready for the day's calls).
We soon got the record into the Capital Top Ten. It went higher and higher as we voted more and more. It eventually got stuck at No.2 - trailing to C W McCall's (awful) song "Convoy".
Matters then became an obsession - we were voting every spare moment that we had (and I was also running up a large bill on the home phone too). We were trying everything to get the record to No.1. We would call the message line and use all different types of accents (so that we didn't get caught out - as each listener was only allowed to vote once per day). I became a master of voting for Slade in Cockney, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Brummie, Geordie, Scouse and even Jamaican accents!
However, me and Raj weren't that good - we did eventually get found out. This wasn't suprising - Capital must have been wondering why the record was being voted for so much by the public - especially as they weren't buying it in the shops. (The single only peaked at No.11 based on sales).
One day the DJ on Capital announced that the record was now banned - as Slade's record company had been caught out as being "under-hand". Well, it wasn't the record company making all the calls - it was me and Raj!
I wrote to the DJ admitting guilt -but the Drive Time Show wouldn't budge. They had banned the record and that was that! I was gutted - but at least I now had money to spend on lunch every day and not starve myself.....
Return of the Top Hat
I found this photo the other day of Nod at Watford Baileys on the 1979 tour.
I'd forgotten that he had a new Top Hat custom made for him. Instead of being covered in circular mirrors - it had just one - in the middle of the hat.
Nod wore the new hat for that tour only. A photo of the hat is to the left.
I'd forgotten that he had a new Top Hat custom made for him. Instead of being covered in circular mirrors - it had just one - in the middle of the hat.
Nod wore the new hat for that tour only. A photo of the hat is to the left.
Jim's Nickname
I think most people know that Jim's nickname is "Midland Misery". Nod even mentioned the nickname in the lyrics to "The Wheels Ain't Coming Down" in 1981.
However, there is some confusion as to exactly how Jim obtained this name.
Some people think that he was given it by the road crew - due to his somewhat pessimistic outlook on life. However, this is not true.
Jim explained it to me years ago. Apparently in about 1973 the band were in Chas's office in South Molton Street looking through their fan mail. One fan had drawn this large card with sketches of each band member. She had labelled each member with an appropriate name. For example, under Dave Hill's drawing she had called him The Silver Man.
Under Jim's picture she called him Midland Misery - because he never smiled in his photos.
The band fell about laughing when they saw it - and the nickname has stuck with Jim ever since.
However, there is some confusion as to exactly how Jim obtained this name.
Some people think that he was given it by the road crew - due to his somewhat pessimistic outlook on life. However, this is not true.
Jim explained it to me years ago. Apparently in about 1973 the band were in Chas's office in South Molton Street looking through their fan mail. One fan had drawn this large card with sketches of each band member. She had labelled each member with an appropriate name. For example, under Dave Hill's drawing she had called him The Silver Man.
Under Jim's picture she called him Midland Misery - because he never smiled in his photos.
The band fell about laughing when they saw it - and the nickname has stuck with Jim ever since.
Christmas Card - 1980
Please, please Give Us A Goal
Top Scorer Don - in Nomis's hat
I remember hearing about the filming of the "Give Us A Goal" promotional video.
Chas had arranged to use Brighton FC for the location. I think that Chas lived nearby - and he had contacts with the Directors of the club.
The band recorded the "live" performance of the song in the half time interval of a match.
The "footie" bits were recorded in the February time 1978 - when it was freezing.
Despite Slade have skinhead roots and being part of the football terrace culture - the band weren't at all into football. I know that Don used to ocassionally look out for the results of Wolves and Nod would know little bits that were going on with Wolves and Walsall - but that was about it.
None of the band were sporty - and none had played football since school.
Whilst filming the "footie" bits - the band used the Brighton pitch on a training day. Several of the Brighton players, including their top striker, Peter Ward, were used in the filming.
The camera crew tried to set up an action shot of one of the band actually scoring a goal. But, no matter how hard they tried, nobody could score.
Dave complained about the cold - and was running around with a woolly bobble hat on his head to keep warm - but not doing much else.
Eventually, Don managed to scramble the ball into the net. Hallelujah! The filming crew could call it a rap - and everyone could go home!
I was given an exclusive customised "Give Us A Goal" whistle by Chas's secretary - Susie Ching. Chas had had a box of about 10 whistles made for promo filming. The whistles were quality metal ones - with special "Give Us A Goal" ribbon. I recall that on the "Give Us A Goal" tour that fans would turn up a gigs with football whistles - and I wore this special one to the Southgate Royalty show in London (on 4 April 1978 - Dave Hill's birthday). Linda Dowsett - a girl fan from Mildenhall, Suffolk, begged me it give it to her. How could I refuse? Shame that I did - as I've never seen one of these whistles again.
Chas had arranged to use Brighton FC for the location. I think that Chas lived nearby - and he had contacts with the Directors of the club.
The band recorded the "live" performance of the song in the half time interval of a match.
The "footie" bits were recorded in the February time 1978 - when it was freezing.
Despite Slade have skinhead roots and being part of the football terrace culture - the band weren't at all into football. I know that Don used to ocassionally look out for the results of Wolves and Nod would know little bits that were going on with Wolves and Walsall - but that was about it.
None of the band were sporty - and none had played football since school.
Whilst filming the "footie" bits - the band used the Brighton pitch on a training day. Several of the Brighton players, including their top striker, Peter Ward, were used in the filming.
The camera crew tried to set up an action shot of one of the band actually scoring a goal. But, no matter how hard they tried, nobody could score.
Dave complained about the cold - and was running around with a woolly bobble hat on his head to keep warm - but not doing much else.
Eventually, Don managed to scramble the ball into the net. Hallelujah! The filming crew could call it a rap - and everyone could go home!
I was given an exclusive customised "Give Us A Goal" whistle by Chas's secretary - Susie Ching. Chas had had a box of about 10 whistles made for promo filming. The whistles were quality metal ones - with special "Give Us A Goal" ribbon. I recall that on the "Give Us A Goal" tour that fans would turn up a gigs with football whistles - and I wore this special one to the Southgate Royalty show in London (on 4 April 1978 - Dave Hill's birthday). Linda Dowsett - a girl fan from Mildenhall, Suffolk, begged me it give it to her. How could I refuse? Shame that I did - as I've never seen one of these whistles again.
Odds and Sods Gallery
