Slade’s Hey Ho Wish You Well A Snapshot of Mid Eighties Rock from Rogues Gallery
Slade’s performance of Hey Ho Wish You Well, as seen in the official 1985 video, captures an important moment in the band’s evolution during the mid nineteen eighties. The track appears on Rogues Gallery, the band’s twelfth studio album released in March 1985. While Slade had been a dominant force in the UK music scene throughout the early seventies, by the mid eighties they were adapting their sound for contemporary audiences while still retaining key elements of their identity as a hard rocking group with an ear for catchy hooks and spirited choruses.
Hey Ho Wish You Well opens the album with a jaunty, upbeat energy that reflects Slade’s intent to make radio friendly material without abandoning the swagger that had defined their earlier work. Written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, the song’s lyrics and arrangement combine rock rhythms with a straightforward, almost celebratory feel. This aligned neatly with the broader musical climate of the era, which saw many established rock acts seeking renewed relevance through more accessible compositions.
The performance featured in the video uses miming, a common practice at the time for television and promotional clips, allowing Slade to present Hey Ho Wish You Well with visual focus and clarity. While not a single in every market, the track stands as a strong album opener that sets the tone for Rogues Gallery, a record that aimed to balance Slade’s classic craft with material oriented toward mid eighties airplay.
Rogues Gallery itself achieved moderate commercial success, reaching number sixty on the UK album charts. The release reflected a band still committed to producing full length records in a changing industry and highlighted the collaborative songwriting partnership between Holder and Lea. Songs across the album, including Hey Ho Wish You Well, feature memorable choruses and the kind of direct musical statements that long time fans associated with Slade’s catalogue.
In context, Hey Ho Wish You Well may not be as widely recognized as Slade’s seventies anthems, but it remains a notable track within their discography. The band’s ability to adapt without losing the essence of their rock roots is evident in this performance, offering a clear view of Slade as they continued to evolve yet remained grounded in the melodic rock tradition that had sustained their career for nearly two decades.