A Brief History of Slade: How the Kings of Glam Became the Ultimate Crowd-Pleasers
While David Bowie dazzled audiences by constantly reinventing himself, Slade chose a very different path to superstardom. They stayed firmly rooted with their fans and, in doing so, became one of the most powerful live bands Britain had ever seen. At the heart of that connection stood Noddy Holder, a frontman whose voice and command of the crowd turned concerts into controlled chaos and singalong celebrations.
Born Neville Holder in Wolverhampton, in England’s Black Country, Noddy came from solid working-class roots. His father was a window cleaner who sang at local working men’s clubs, and by the age of seven Noddy was already performing on stage himself. His early influences ranged from popular singers of the early 1950s to the moment that truly changed everything: discovering Little Richard. From then on, rock and roll became his calling.
By the mid-1960s, after years of playing in various Midlands bands, Noddy became lead singer of a group that would eventually be renamed Slade. By 1969 they had a strong local following, but chart success remained elusive. Their manager, Chas Chandler, knew something had to change. His solution was radical. Slade adopted a skinhead look, cutting their hair and shocking audiences. It cost them girlfriends, but it got them noticed.
The image alone was not enough. The real breakthrough came in 1971 with the arrival of glam rock. Slade transformed their look into something louder and more colorful, blending working-class swagger with glitter and attitude. Musically, they returned to raw rock and roll roots, but with massive hooks and a new sense of fun. Their cover of Little Richard’s “Get Down and Get With It” became their first Top 20 hit and introduced a wider audience to Noddy’s unmistakable voice.
What truly set Slade apart was their live presence. Audience participation was everything. Noddy Holder was not just a singer, he was a ringmaster, directing hands, feet, and voices with total authority. Those who never saw Slade live, many musicians later admitted, never fully understood what the band was about.
Recognizing the need for original anthems, Chandler paired Noddy with bassist and violinist Jim Lea. Writing sessions were famously informal, sometimes taking place at Noddy’s mother’s house over tea and cheese sandwiches. Within minutes, the foundations of songs that would become era-defining hits were laid. Slade quickly proved they had a gift for writing stomping, shout-along anthems that felt made for stadiums.
By 1973, Britain was struggling with power cuts, strikes, and economic gloom. Slade responded with optimism and noise. Singles like “Cum On Feel the Noize” and “Merry Xmas Everybody” went straight to number one. The latter spent 25 weeks on the charts and became one of the most enduring Christmas songs in British history, still resonating decades later.
By the end of that year, Slade had scored six UK number one singles, making them the most successful British band since The Beatles. Even after glam rock faded, their influence endured. Noddy Holder stepped away from fronting the band in 1991, later building a career in broadcasting and acting, but Slade’s songs continued to be covered by artists around the world.
Today, Slade are remembered not just as glam rock icons, but as masters of connection. Loud, joyful, and unapologetic, they proved that sometimes the greatest role a rock band can play is simply giving people something to shout, stomp, and believe in together.