Tear Into The Weekend and Noddy Holder’s Unexpected Return to the Studio in 1988
In nineteen eighty eight, Noddy Holder, best known as the unmistakable voice of Slade, took part in an unusual recording project that briefly brought him back into the studio spotlight. The song Tear Into The Weekend was not released as a conventional single, nor was it connected to a new Slade album. Instead, it was created for a Pepsi Cola advertising campaign aimed primarily at the North American market.
Holder was approached directly to provide the lead vocal for the track, which had already been written and partially produced before his involvement. According to his own account shared with the Slade fan club in nineteen eighty eight, the invitation came without warning. He was sent the lyrics, informed of the concept, and offered a substantial fee. Holder accepted without hesitation, noting that the song suited his voice and carried a familiar rock and roll spirit.
Musically, Tear Into The Weekend was designed to echo the high energy glam rock style that had made Slade internationally famous during the nineteen seventies. Holder himself described it as being in the mould of Mama Weer All Crazee Now, one of the band’s defining recordings. The intention was clear. The producers wanted a bold and recognizable vocal sound that could cut through radio airplay and instantly grab attention.
The recording process was brief and efficient. Holder entered Redwood Studios in London and recorded his vocal over a backing track that had already been completed. There was little revision or experimentation involved. Once his part was finished, session backing singers arrived to complete the track. Holder later emphasized how quickly the work was done, reflecting the commercial nature of the project rather than a prolonged creative collaboration.
Although the campaign was initially intended for both the United States and Canada, the finished advertisement ultimately aired only in Canada. Despite this limitation, Tear Into The Weekend received heavy exposure, reportedly being played daily across more than twenty five radio stations. This level of rotation ensured that Holder’s voice once again reached a wide audience, even if many listeners were unaware of its connection to a former Slade frontman.
The project did not signal a broader solo comeback or a new musical direction for Holder. Instead, it stands as a curious and revealing footnote in his career. Tear Into The Weekend demonstrated the lasting appeal of his voice and the continued influence of Slade’s sound well into the late nineteen eighties. It also highlighted how voices associated with classic rock could still hold commercial value years after their chart dominance had passed.
Today, the recording remains an interesting example of how rock heritage and advertising briefly intersected, capturing Noddy Holder in a moment that was both unexpected and unmistakably familiar.