The Best Time Ever - Xmas 1983

For me, the best time ever following Slade was Christmas 1983.

Slade returned from the USA in 1977 as "has beens". They hit the small club circuit the following year playing to the "magic 500". Nod gave the Slade audience this nickname in 1978 - because it didn't matter where Slade played, either pubs, small clubs or universities - it always seemed that 500 people turned up!

The band slogged away in the UK playing anywhere and everywhere. Their reward came in 1983 - ten years after the release of their biggest hit - "Merry Xmas Everybody".

Nod and Jim had written a moving ballad "My Oh My". It was well produced, distributed well by RCA, and the pluggers got it on the Radio One playlist and all the commercial stations. It shot up the charts and became a "strong Number 2". Jim told me on the phone that on Christmas week that RCA were referring to the song as a "strong Number 2" - as although it was selling bucket loads - it was never going to knock the Flying Pickets ("Only You") off the top spot to be the Christmas No.1

Slade were in every newspaper and on every TV show - even back on Top Of The Pops (who can forget those performances with the crowd swaying from side to side with plastic "Slade" banners - with half of them held upside down?)

It was at this time that I saw a lot of Don. We went out socially on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve 1983 - to Spirals on the Finchley Road in Hampstead. It was our regular haunt. I remember on New Year's Eve Slade performed on the David Frost "End Of The Year Show" TV Special. It was filmed that the London Weekend TV Studios on the South Bank. The band played "My Oh My" (which was stuck at No.2) to a tv audience that included Diana Dors, Brian Waldon, Ken Livingstone and Denis Norden. They all swayed from side to side - in true Slade fashion.

As soon as the filming finished Don, and his girlfriend Carol, jumped in a ca b to come to Spirals and see the New Year in with us. To see photos from Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 1983 click here. To see the performance of "My Oh My" on the David Frost Show that I have uploaded to You Tube - click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel Bush and ITB

Mel Bush promoted Slade's tours from 1972 onwards - including their biggest indoor UK gig at Earls Court in 1973. He was a family man from the Bournemouth area and became a very close friend of the band. 

I recall that he still promoted the band on the "Give Us A Goal" tour of 1978 - but I think this was the last time. This was the band's last "big" tour. After this Slade and Mel Bush amicably parted company. 

You may remember seeing pictures of Nod and David Essex kissing Mel Bush's daughter (Barbara) at her wedding in the early 1980's. Nod and all the band were invited.

Slade were next promoted by Rod McSween's agency - International Talent Booking (ITB). They worked really hard for the band and got them gigs on the University and small clubs circuit when times were hard. Slade appreciated their efforts.

When the band had their comeback after their performing at the Reading Festival in 1980, and with "We'll Bring The House Down" becoming a hit, they played bigger venues again. They suddenly climbed the ladder to attracting crowds big enough to fill concert halls such as the Odeon Theatres and Town Halls again. Mel offered to promote the band once more. The band had a dilema - such they return to work with Mel Bush or stick with ITB? They decided to stay with ITB - as this agency had stuck with Slade during the bad times.

FYI. The guy at ITB who actually arranged Slade's bookings was D (erek) Kemp. I met him at a Slade gig at the Music Machine. When he was introduced to me he said "Ah - at last - so you're Dave Kemp!"  It appears that Derek was getting queried by lots of people as to whether he ran the Slade Fan Club, as well as doing their concert bookings. I had placed numerous adverts and had letters published in the press under the name " D. Kemp" . Many people in the industry thought that I was him (if you see what I mean).

Derek was a chubby, jovial guy. We got on well. I mentioned to him that I only received Slade's gig schedule at the last minute from Chas's office. He took my address and phone number - and for that time onwards would give me all the details direct before anyone else knew!