Ambrose Slade

Chas Chandler started his career in music as bass guitarist for 'The Animals', the well known and successful group from Newcastle who had a run of hit records starting in 1964 with House Of The Rising Sun. Despite The Animals international success, the band members made little money from their records and split up in 1966 with the disenchanted Chandler using connections he had made to go into the business side of pop music. Chas Chandler had discovered Jimi Hendrix in New York in 1966 and after arranging for him to go to London, managed Hendrix's career for the next two years. This association made Chandler a rich and respected figure in the London music scene and by 1969 he was looking for a new group to produce and manage.

Chas Chandler was as impressed by Ambrose Slade as they were of him. After taking over as manager, he booked the group to perform at influential venues as well as keeping them on the road full time to help pay for better equipment and promotion. Note: Chas Chandler also checked out the Wolverhampton 'super-group' Trapeze, before ultimately deciding to go with Ambrose Slade.

In April 1969, Phillips Records issued the first Ambrose Slade album under the title of 'Beginnings' with a group written single - a progressive-sounding instrumental titled 'Genesis' taken from it. The record missed the charts but Chas Chandler told the band to write more of their own material and by the end of 1969 had shortened their name to 'Slade'. They continued to work up and down the country but were still regarded as an 'underground' attraction.

In an attempt to get more publicity, Chas Chandler had Slade go for a new "skinhead" image complete with Doc Marten 'bovver' boots, braces and shaved heads. At that time, skinhead gangs were getting a lot of press coverage so the idea seemed like a good one but Dave Hill and Jim Lea were not happy with this decision. They especially hated going to the barber to get their beloved long hair shaved off!

Noddy remembers an advantage of their hard-knock appearance was there was never any hassle collecting their gig payments from promoters who feared they might get beaten up by the group unless they promptly handed over the full amount! The tough skinhead image did create the desired effect in the music press with Slade given photo coverage and the first Slade album titled 'Play It Loud' issued on Polydor Records featured a front cover picture of the group dressed as skinheads. This album, released in November 1970, gained little more attention than the previous Ambrose Slade album and although the songs were well produced and they promoted one of the singles from it Shape Of Things To Come on 'Top Of The Pops', it did not sell enough copies to make the charts.

Slade were however, becoming a major live attraction in the clubs and this was largely due to Noddy Holder's ability to work the audience into an almost frenzy like state. One song in particular they performed that gained much reaction was an old Little Richard number called Get Down And Get With It. Chas Chandler saw the potential of the song as Slade's next single, so he had the group record it with their version being released in May of 1971. The song featured Noddy Holder's now trademark vocal style as well as a foot stomping/hand clapping chorus and became Slade's first hit record reaching Number 16 in the UK charts. Slade also took to wearing ever-more outrageous outfits on stage thus shooting to the forefront of the Glitter or "Glam Rock" movement which also included fellow Midlander Roy Wood's group Wizzard (see The Move).

Unlike many "new" groups who found themselves with a hit single, Slade were well prepared for the success that awaited them and their next single Cos I Luv You got to No.1 in the charts by November of 1971. The song was composed by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea thus establishing a successful writing team which began a run of hit singles for Slade - including an incredible six number ones by the end of 1973 thus making the group the most successful in Britain at that time since the Beatles. Note: the mis-spelling of song titles reflecting a 'Black Country' accent was to become a trade-mark for Slade during their most successful chart period.

Slade hits that topped the U.K. chart were; Coz I Luv You, Take Me Bak 'Ome, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Cum On Feel The Noize, Squeeze Me Pleeze Me, and Merry Xmas Everybody. Their other top ten singles during that time were; Look Wot You Dun, Gudbuy T'Jane, My Friend Stan, Everyday, Bangin' Man and Far Far Away.

Slade would enjoy international success until the late 1970s and the advent of the punk rock era but would make a comeback in the 1980s culminating with their hit records My Oh My and Run Run Away in 1984 becoming worldwide hits. Even today, well known artists continue to record versions of their songs and the Slade classic hit Merry XMas Everybody still remains a seasonal favourite.