Slade slay them

 

It was rock's answer to 'The Good Old days'-- and it was simply magic! Slade have barely changed their sound in a decade, and although the record sales aren't what they used to be who cares? Certainly not Birmingham fans --- 2,000 of them were going bananas the minute the band walked on stage.

It's almost impossible to watch a show by the Wolverhampton foursome without breaking into a huge smile, partly for nostalgic reasons but mostly at the sight of watching so many people enjoying themselves so much.

Slade don't demand concentration, dressing up or hero worship -- only that their audiences forget their inhibitions, let their hair down and bawl along to every simple well-loved chorus.

Despite the fact that their fame peaked nine or ten years ago, no-one has been able to imitate the unique Slade sound, which owes much to Noddy Holder's hoarse sounding voice.

The Christmas show in Birmingham is a well-deserved sell out every year, simply because no-one else can produce such tremendous party spirit.

The fans got all the old hits they came for, with the streamers, baloons, and Noddy dressed as Santa for Merry Christmas Everybody along with some of the newer numbers like We'll Bring The House Down.

Slade play their second show at the Odeon tonight.

JACKIE BAILEY

BIRMINGHAM EVENING MAIL

Photo courtesy of Dave Kemp