Slade Convention - Finsbury Leisure Centre, Old Street, London - 1986

As far as I'm aware the first ever Slade fan convention took place in 1986 at the Finsbury Leisure centre.

Trevor Slaughter was now running the Slade Fan Club and I'd mentioned to him that I'd always envisage organising a get-together for all the fans, but never got round to it.

He thought it was a great idea. So why didn't we organise one?

I found a hall near to where I worked in Old Street, on the edge of the City of London - and booked it for a Saturday night.  

The crew who were organising the event were myself, Trevor, Dave Jewell and Jenny Gamble. All were going to stay in my flat in Finchley.

On the day of the convention my beloved football team, Arsenal, were playing at home - so after setting up the hall, I went off to watch them. I arranged to meet up with all the guys back at my flat after the game - and then head off to the hall.

Trevor Slaughter decided that he didn't want to get changed and stayed at the hall. All the rest, including me, went to Finchley, got ready and had a few drinks for Dutch courage. You will not be surprised that with Underground delays on the Northern Line, that we arrived late back at the hall.

Trevor was having a panic attack - while trying to cope with the 150 or so people queuing to get in. He was shouting and giving orders to me and the others when we arrived. All we could do was laugh.

The event went well. Most people got drunk (including Kenny from Newcastle - who was a handful). Someone even got so drunk that the upset TV presenter Gaz Top (later called Gareth Jones when he presented the "How" TV Show) when they tried to take a photo of his willy when he was having a wee.

However, some attendees were disappointed that no band members were actually at the event. We promised to rectify this at the next convention.

The Royal Standard Convention, Walthamstow, London - 1987

I was involved with arranging a bigger and better convention the following year. 

I'd found a pub/club in Walthamstow that was used for smallish rock concerts - and catered for a different type of audience on Sunday lunchtimes - when the venue turned in to a strip joint!What an ideal for a Slade convention! So the Fan Club organising committee booked The Royal Standard in 1987.

As a surprise, Paul Lythe had convinced Nod and Dave to attend and meet the fans. Gaz Top was once again the compare and the night before he stayed at my flat in Enfield. Many drinks and a curry were consumed - and he slept on the floor. 

Nod and Dave were driven to the hall by roadie Mickey Legge. There was all sorts of whispers that some of the band might attend and the venue was buzzing. Nod and Dave sat in the carpark outside until the appropriate time where they entered the venue. I remember me, Dave Jewell, Trevor Slaughter, Paul Lythe and even Jenny Gamble had to link arms to hold fans back so they could get to the stage! (Just like the bouncers when the Osmonds had toured - except rather than screaming wet-kinckered girls - we had to cope with drunken beerbellied guys).

We had arranged for a sofa to be positioned onstage - and Nod and Dave sat down and did a question and answers session with the fans. Along with some industrial electric fans - to keep them cool if the questioning got hot (and it did).

All went quite well - although the hot topic that kepting cropping up was about the band refusing to tour. Nod answered several times that he would not tour at the present time - and would not elaborate. However, the questions kept coming. I suppose the fans just wanted to get to the bottom of the situation - and why not?

Nod and Dave had lots of time for the fans. They stayed for a couple of hours, had photos taken and signed autographs.

They were then whisked off to their usual hotel. I think it was called The Edward Hotel in Paddington. Nod liked itas it had a late (very late) bar.....

 Drummonds Convention, Kings Cross, London - 1988

Disaster. Absolute disaster from start to finish.

Paul Lythe found the location for the next convention. Initially it was an underground cavern venue called Merlins Cave, round the back of King Cross. The manager was friendly and the venue was ideal - they would offer a late bar til 1pm.

However, the week before the do disaster struck. The Merlins Cave venue had financial troubles and was closed down. Paul Lythe did some stirling work arranging an alternative hall. We needed somewhere local - as many fans had already booked hotel accomodation in Kings Cross. I told Paul that I knew the manager of a big pub locally called Drummonds (now renamed O'Neills). The pub he ran had a huge upstairs meeting room - and we could use this. It wasn't ideal, as it was a bit run-down - but at last minute it was an alternative that we couldn't refuse. Paul then had to send numerous letters to fans advising them of the change.

On the day everything seemed to be going well. Once again Nod and Dave agreed to attend, which was great.

This time, all the fans seemed to arrive earlier than before - and started hitting the drink a lot earlier too! By the time Nod and Dave turned up everyone was well oiled.

Nod and Dave were in good moods. Until the questions about the band not touring started being fired by the fans once again. As soon as Nod or Dave tried to answer other questions - the crowd started heckling to bring the topic back to Slade not touring. Jeering and pandemonium ensued. I was embaressed. Embarassed to be there - and embarassed for Nod and Dave who had taken time to attend.

The event was cut short because of bad atmosphere. Nod and Dave were in no mood to stay.

My old friend Gill Thomson from County Durham had turned up on her motorbike. I think she went off with Nod and Dave for a curry and a few beers to forget the evening. I never saw her again after this event......and Nod and Dave said that they would never attend another fan club do of this nature.