Christmas Ball

Simon Scott ~ SOUNDS 15/12/1982

"Ah Slade! The very name evokes memories of the old Radio 1 club, when the world first had its ears syringed by THAT voice bawling out 'Get down and get with it'. Since then Slade have enjoyed the heady heights of super-stardom and plummeted back down into the obscurity from whence they came.

Nothing if not resilient, they spent some time in America until their rebirth in the unlikely ashes of Reading Festival. In the 80's, Slade are louder and ruder than they've ever been and more fun! From the start they waste no time in whipping the assembled revelers into the seething, sweaty mass that is par for any Slade gig. Noddy is his usual mix of Clockwork Orange Alex and the artful dodger. Dave Hill struts and swaggers the whole time, while ripping out lead guitar riffs of a standard that makes him the thinking man's Angus Young.The real surprise though, is Jimmy Lea. In addition to his bass duties, he finds time to trundle through 'purple haze' as well as a nifty fiddle solo, part of it played behind his back. Dexy's who, John?

At the sharp end, Noddy keeps a firm hand on the atmosphere, pushing it to the edge of chaos, but never allowing it to peter over the edge. As for the songs, well need you ask? Apart from Gary Glitter, very few people can play an entire live set comprised of hit singles. Slade could if they wished, which they didn't. There are favourites of course: 'Gudbuy T Jane' and the immortal 'Get down and get with it', as well as later material, 'Lock up your daughters' We'll bring the house down' and so on.

The only time the pace relaxed was during the new single C'est la vie' which is the nearest Slade ever get to being romantic. The crowd responded with arm waving, while those who knew it sang along in tearfully drunken unison, ignoring the beer that slopped all over the floor and neighbours' clothes. There were a few glasses smashed and there were a couple of times when the lighting desk was in grave danger of taking a walk across the ballroom, but the atmosphere never hinted at the ugliness that ruins so many good-time gigs these days.

The encore was a medley of 'Cum on feel the noize' and 'Mama weer all crazee now'. and that was it. But what about THAT single? Back they came, Noddy wearing a full Santa Claus costume and asking us if there was anything we'd like to hear. "You'd fuckin' better, now I've put this fuckin' lot on!" was his considered opinion and they went straight into the song. Considering the number of times they must have played it, Slade could be forgiven for a cursory run-through, but that's not their way. Like everything else, it was done with foot to the floorboards. On this showing, Slade are maintaining the philosophy that's sustained them through the last decade: "Make 'em have it!"