Slade – Perseverance (1986): The Documentary That Captured the Band at Its Lowest and Most Honest Point
The 1986 documentary Perseverance, broadcast on the Music Box cable channel, remains one of the most revealing and emotionally raw portraits ever made about Slade. Part Two of this five-part series documents a crucial period in the band’s history, when commercial dominance gave way to personal tragedy, professional uncertainty, and an extraordinary test of resilience.
At the height of their chart supremacy in 1973, Slade suffered a devastating setback. Drummer Don Powell was involved in a car accident that killed his girlfriend Angie and left him with severe physical injuries, memory loss, and long-term trauma. In candid interviews, Powell and his bandmates recall the shock of receiving the news and the fear that he might not survive. When he did, the road back was long and painful.
Powell describes being encouraged back onto the road while still on walking sticks, carried on and off stage during early shows. He struggled to remember songs, setlists, and even where he was mid-performance. Yet touring, he explains, became an essential form of rehabilitation, both physically and mentally. What might have seemed impossible at the time ultimately proved to be a turning point in his recovery.
The documentary also reflects on Slade in Flame (1974), the semi-autobiographical film that mirrored aspects of the band’s real story. While critically respected, the film took significant time away from recording and touring. Members openly discuss how its release coincided with a noticeable downturn in their commercial momentum, marking the beginning of a rapid decline on the UK singles charts.
By the mid-1970s, as punk reshaped the British music landscape, Slade found themselves out of step with the prevailing scene. Singles like “Far Far Away” and “How Does It Feel” failed to match their earlier chart success. The band relocated to the United States for two years, but upon returning to the UK in 1977, they faced an industry that had seemingly moved on without them.
What followed was a humbling period of rebuilding. Slade returned to playing small clubs, venues they jokingly referred to as “chicken in a basket” places. Major labels had dropped them, the press ignored them, and money was scarce. Yet the band insisted on performing on their own terms, investing in their own production and introducing new material on stage. Live performance, they believed, was where their true strength still lay.
That perseverance paid off. Years of relentless touring culminated in a pivotal appearance at the Reading Festival in 1980, widely acknowledged as the moment Slade reasserted themselves as a formidable live act. Though record sales lagged behind, their reputation on stage sustained them.
Perseverance does not romanticize success. Instead, it documents endurance, humility, and belief in the power of performance. More than a documentary, it stands as a testament to why Slade survived when so many of their contemporaries did not.