Slade Veterans Return to the Charts as Heritage Music Finds a New Audience
Continuing the story first introduced in their Midlands Today appearance, Don Powell and Jim Lea returned to the spotlight in a follow-up segment that highlights how veteran Midlands musicians are once again competing for chart success, this time through the rapidly growing Heritage Chart.
Broadcast on BBC’s Midlands Today, the report places Slade firmly within the region’s long tradition of producing world-class rock artists, from Slade to ELO. For Powell, the memories are vivid. He recalls the excitement of the 1970s, when chart positions were eagerly awaited each week and number one singles were a regular achievement. Slade topped the UK Singles Chart six times during that era, an accomplishment that once seemed firmly in the past.
That sense of anticipation has returned. Powell’s current band was filmed shooting a new music video in Kidderminster, aiming for the top spot on the Heritage Chart, a fan-driven chart created by DJ and broadcaster Mike Read. Unlike traditional charts, the Heritage Chart relies on votes from listeners around the world, celebrating new releases by established artists. The format has given musicians of Powell and Lea’s generation renewed visibility, boosting streaming figures, record sales, and live performances.
Powell describes the chart as a vital “shop window” for heritage artists, offering motivation to write new songs, make videos, and stay creatively active. For many, it represents more than nostalgia; it is a genuine second life in a modern music landscape.
Adding a personal twist to the story, Powell notes that the current number one position is held by none other than his former Slade bandmate Jim Lea. Lea reacts with visible surprise and gratitude, remarking that such success at this stage of life feels almost unreal, yet deeply affirming. The support, he says, proves that a loyal audience still exists and is eager to engage.
Fans attending the video shoot echoed that enthusiasm, praising the Heritage Chart for bringing classic artists back into public conversation. With a guest appearance from Bev Bevan of ELO, Powell’s band hopes their new release will soon climb to the top, reinforcing the idea that Midlands rock heritage is not just history, but a living, evolving force.