October 1972
Fourth grand prix for radio Luxembourg"The fourth annual Grand Prix for record producers will be held by Radio Luxembourg on October 19 in Luxembourg. The competition is open to record producers from Great Britain, Germany, France, Holland and Luxembourg. Each country submits three record productions as their entries, and all the European services of Radio Luxembourg International will promote the event, which will also receive television coverage throughout Europe. At the same time the British Service of Radio Luxembourg will announce its Artists Of The Year."
DeeJay Mag: October 1972
Radio Luxembourg, a.k.a. FAB 208, was Europe's biggest commercial radio station and an important forerunner of pirate radio and modern commercial radio across Europe including The Netherlands & Scandinavia. It boasted the most powerful transmitter in the world and captured very large audiences in the British Isles and across Europe. DJ's included Tommy Vance, Stewart Grundy, Paul Burnett, Kid Jensen and Stuart Henry.
"The recently started Radio Luxembourg/Top Rank Tamla Disco nights got off to a fantastic start with the first two sessions at Doncaster and Reading. In each case the attendance at these locations was almost trebled. "It's fantastic", said 208 Press Officer Jimmy Parsons, "it's almost reaching the heights of Beatlemania with screaming young ladies mobbing the DJ's ...."208 Tamla nights go down a bomb!
DeeJay Mag: October 1972
Meanwhile, Slade had spent three weeks trawling around the US playing three weeks of arena dates as the 'third on the bill' support group playing a 20 minute set. Now the band were back in their own domain and a short European tour was required to remind their fans they were still around and to sell the latest single, Mama Weer All Crazee Now. Slade were heading for Germany with the American all girl rock group, Fanny, as their support group but first first they had business in France and the Netherlands.
De Doelen, Rotterdam. 20th October 1972
The first was in South Holland's largest city, Rotterdam, on the Friday 20th October and an article was published in the newspaper 'Het Parool' on 21st october 1972.
Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. 21st october 1972
The second took place in North Holland's largest city, Amsterdam, (a regular stop on their early tours) on the Saturday 21st. A review featured in 'NRC Handelsblad' on 23rd of October (a.k.a. NRC, it was a "highbrow" newspaper back then).
No Fanny at these gigs, Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers filled the support slot. They were a rock and roll band from Arnhem, formed in 1972 from the dregs of the band, Moan. They dressed as rockers and performed 50's cover numbers. In 1973, led by manager Rein Muntinga with a publicity campaign The Shakers became known as a rough rock & roll band with rumors of aggressive band members, fights and wild performances.
The 22nd was spent in Bruxelles playing at the Forest National prior to moving into Germany.
The date is missing from this cutting but it's suggests Sunday, 22nd October for the Paris date. There is also reason to believe that Slade played the Olympia on Monday, 16th October as suggested in this Golden Earring story."Slade, who opened a ten day European tour at Paris, Olympia on Sunday evening, had to play a fourth encore following requests by the police. Unless they played again, the police would be unable to clear the hall. The group fly back to England midway through their tour for the concert at Wembley Empire Pool on October 28. Supporting will be Blackfoot Sue."
New Musical Express
"Deze show in Parijs ging niet door. De groep was wel naar Parijs gegaan, maar een Engels groepje met de naam Slade had z'n installatie al opgesteld. De roadmanager van deze groep had verboden de installatie van de Earring ook op het podium te plaatsen. Hierna ontstond een fikse ruzie waarbij de Earring het onderspit moest delven. De groep kon dus zonder optreden weer terug naar Den Haag. Wie nu wat moest betalen is niet bekend."Yes, it's in Dutch but the gist of it seems to suggest that Slade & Golden Earring were both booked at Olympia that night. Golden Earring fanclub magazine 1981 #6 (continuing story part 13) is where the story comes from but I'd be interested to know what was on the tickets for the gig. Four thousand plus Slade fans would not have been happy to see Golden Earring take to the stage.
The Netherlands maybe a little misleading actually. To my knowledge, the group, certainly on this occasion, only visited Holland. Slade had regularly played Dutch tours, often in blocks of four dates but on this occasion I am only aware of two.
"The concert in Rotterdam took place in 'De Doelen', 20th October 1972. The attachment is an article about the performance in Rotterdam. It was published in the newspaper, 'Het Parool', on 21st october 1972. Unfortunately the quality of the microfiche is not very good.
Met vriendelijke groet,"
Annemiek van Zaal: Tijdschriftenbeheer Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam
Dazzling show of overwhelming, primitive rock
Chaos from Slade
"Some groups have only one goal at a concert and for the English band Slade it's a pre-requsite, the effect of the music being more important than the music itself. Slade bring along hard rock crushing everything in their dazzling show.
Watching them use this formula tonight in the packed Rotterdam Doelen, the result was an absolutely fascinating one of total heated excitement. Musically there is nothing new with Slade. They play simple, urgent, primitive rock and in this context they are very professional.
This gratuitous raw sound explosion also works commercially, given the increasing amount of hits they score. Most of them were played tonight. And with each new song the excitement took greater form. "Look What You Dun" and Janis Joplin's "Move Over Baby" were announced with a scream by singer Noddy Holder and delivered aggressively because Slade know about decibels. "Darling Be Home Soon" was actually the quietest song, but even that belted out around the hall.
Slade had full control of the audience and with a sign bedlam cauldron cooked. Tonight, Slade, like last night with Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers opening, in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. It's too late to fit the seats with safety belts."
Jim Van Alphen: Het Parool 21st October 1972
The second took place in North Holland's largest city, Amsterdam, (a regular stop on their early tours) on the Saturday 21st. A review featured in 'NRC Handelsblad' on 23rd of October (a.k.a. NRC, it was a "highbrow" newspaper back then).
Truth ravages after action group Slade
"Since the legendary concert by the Rolling Stones in 1964, when the furniture of the Haagse Houtrusthal was turned to splinters and the action was stopped by the police force after 2 numbers. Those scenes did not happen last Saturday night in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw though.
The English foursome Slade created, within one hour, a reputation with a new generation of popmusic lovers, who have been deprived for too long of that which rock 'n roll started with in the first place: a mix of excitement, sex, fun and agression, brought with simple, stomping, loud and catchy music performed by self-assured young men who know exactly how to deal with hooligans.
When the public left the Concertgebouw, the strained orderkeepers* were left, looking with bewilderment at the wreckage in the hall: six rows of chairs were wrecked, broken beer-bottles everywhere: it was a mess.
The Shakers
The support act turned out to be a good choice. Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers from Arnhem, formally known as Moan. They played a jolly, professional show with a string of old rock 'n roll hits, which was also nice to look at.The combination of fifties clothing and greased hair led to a good atmosphere; when the leadsinger develops some more personality, they might even be succesful abroad.
Meanwhile the beer was sold out: this audience weren't "smokers" they were drinkers. Then the spotlight went on and Slade appeared on the stage, previously only known from some performances in smaller places, but now for the excellent Slade Alive! album and a constant string of hits.Four, not so good-looking, boys from the country, discreetly dressed except guitar player Dave Hill who wears a silver suit covered with glitter. With the first number the audience were already standing on the chairs. As the show went ahead, the greater part of the audience was joining in, this is because there is a lot to enjoy, both visually and musically. The "concrete" rhythm, the "crying" guitar parts and especially in Janis Joplin's 'Move Over' the mercilessly shrill voice of Noddy Holder.
Eventually, nobody was sitting down: everybody was stomping, clapping singing and whistling while the well-known songs came relentlessly from the excellent high powered sound system. Things did not get out of hand thanks to the band, who, although they asked the crowd to join in and to swing along, knew when to stop further provocations.PIM OETS: NRC Handelsblad, 23rd October 1972
After 'Take Me Bak 'Ome' there was an encore, their current hit 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' and that statement was the truth!
It was amazing how fast the crowd calmed after the house-lights went on; they went home tired but satisfied. Today's 'teenagers' celebrated the coming of the new Beatles, they are called SLADE! "
(*security or doormen I assume. Ed)
The 22nd was spent in Bruxelles playing at the Forest National prior to moving into Germany.
Forest National, Bruxelles, Belgium. October 22nd, 1972
** I'm hoping to find a review for this gig in the not too distant future. **
Musikhalle großer Saal, Hamburg, Germany. October 25th, 1972
(If anybody should see one, please let me know.)
It's possible that Heinrich was closest to Hill at the concert but equally likely that he was simply fascinated by Hill's outrageous performance.
"I haven’t specific memories. I was a 19 year old long haired Slade fan. It was a fine concert with good mood."
Rolf Thalmann
Deutschlandhalle, Messedamm 26, 14055 Berlin, Germany. Thursday October 26th 1972
Built primarily for the 1936 Summer Olympics, the Deutschlandhalle could hold 8,764 people. Deutschlandhalle arena was in the Westend neighbourhood of Berlin. It was inaugurated on 29 November 1935 by Adolf Hitler and On 4 September 1970, it was the site of Jimi Hendrix's penultimate performance. Granted landmark status in 1995, but on December 3, 2011, the building was demolished.
The Friday is unaccounted for but Saturday they were in London for the night. The show is referred to in the fan club newsletter for Oct/Nov 1972 where 'News In Brief' states:
"Slade will top the bill at the Star Organisation for Spastics charity concert at Wembley Empire Pool on October 28th..."
The setlist is said to be....
- Hear Me Calling
- Look Wot You Dun
- Coz I Luv You
- Know Who You Are
- Keep on Rocking
- Move Over
- Gudbuy T'Jane
- Take Me Bak 'Ome
- Mama Weer All Crazee Now
- Get Down and Get With It
Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. October 30th
'Montag 30.10.72 20Uhr Jahrhunderthalle. Ffm-Hoechst'
'Slade presented by Lipperman Rau - Fanny The Rocking Ladies from USA'
"To me Slade was ok but later I was really amazed by them."
"They were not just standing there and playing, they acted more like a show band.
"In every corner of the stage something happened, you really don't know where to look first."
"I can't remember on specific things, it is nearly 40 years ago and I have seen about 500 concerts since then..."
"Both bands were very good that evening...
"...Slade did their 'Ballermann Rock', not bad, but for me, Fanny rocked that night!"
Klaus Hiltscher: Mannheim, Germany
Circus Krone Bau, Munich, Germany. October 31st.
Unfortunately, I have found no Slade photos of this gig yet but if I do they will be posted here.
Next Page
Thanks are due to Heinrich Klaffs whose photographs can be found on flickr. Klaus Hiltscher aka Affendaddy who worked as a journalist in the music business for 10 years at 2 Radiostations (SWF + RPR South-Germany) and published The Gimmix Book Of Records (Virgin Books, 1981). His photos are also available on flickr. Also Rolf Thalmann who provides the ticket for the Hamburg appearance from his extensive collection. Dutch translations are courtesy of Martin Engel and gig posters courtesy of Tony Pye and the ubiquitous Chris Selby, thanks also to Jaap Zandee.
Dutch Tour: Autumn 1972 (known dates)
20/10/1972 De Doelen, Rotterdam, South Holland
(Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers)
21/10/1972 Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, North Holland
(Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers)
22/10/1972 Forest National, Bruxelles, Belgium
German Tour: Autumn 1972 (known dates)
25/10/1972 Muskhalle, Hamburg, Germany
30/10/1972 Frankfurt Höchst Jahrhunderthalle, Germany (Fanny)
31/10/1972 Circus Krone Bau Munich (Fanny)
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