Noddy Holder Looks Back on Glam Rock Glory in Lively “Planet Norwich” Interview
In a spirited and revealing interview on Planet Norwich, Noddy Holder, the unmistakable frontman of 1970s glam rock giants Slade, revisits his extraordinary career with humor, candor, and unmistakable rock ’n’ roll swagger. Joined by hosts Roy & HG, Holder reflects on his life, the rise of Slade, and the realities of relentless touring during one of the most colorful eras in British rock history.
From the opening moments, the tone is playful and irreverent. Holder is welcomed as the man who put the “ball-peen hammer” into Slade’s sound, a fitting description for a band known for its raw power, infectious hooks, and unapologetic volume. The conversation quickly travels back to 1972 and the golden days of Top of the Pops, where Slade’s explosive performances and outrageous outfits became cultural landmarks. Holder recalls that the band didn’t just wear their glam costumes on stage they lived in them. He vividly describes an 18,000-strong crowd at Earls Court dressed exactly like Slade, turning London into what he jokingly suggests must have looked like a Martian invasion.
Holder also offers sharp, unfiltered opinions on the music industry. Discussing radio airplay, he makes it clear that Slade never had to beg for spins because, in his words, “radio doesn’t play crap records.” His comments extend to artists of his generation struggling for relevance, delivered with blunt honesty but also an understanding of how markets change.
One of the interview’s most fascinating sections explores Holder’s distinctive vocal style, often described as a controlled scream. He recounts a moment in New York when a classical vocal coach, after hearing Holder sing, admitted there was nothing he could do to change a voice that had been shaped by over a decade of rock performance. Holder wears this as a badge of honor, even recalling an American review that compared his voice to a fingernail scraping a blackboard, something he proudly took as a compliment.
The discussion also touches on Slade’s songwriting formula, shaped by manager Chas Chandler: strong hooks within the first 30 seconds, short guitar solos, and melodies audiences could sing along to. This approach helped Slade distill their explosive stage act into three-minute hit singles that dominated charts around the world.
As the interview moves into tales of chaotic tours, massive crowds in Australia, and what Holder calls “tour madness,” the conversation becomes a vivid portrait of rock stardom at its most extreme. Despite the excess, Holder reflects on it all with warmth and wit, never losing sight of the joy that music brought to both band and fans.
More than just nostalgia, this Planet Norwich interview captures Noddy Holder as a storyteller, survivor, and symbol of glam rock’s fearless spirit a reminder of a time when rock music was loud, colorful, and gloriously out of control.