European Tour, Fall 1973

Norway, November 1973

Slade in Town

"Oslo Sports Club organizes a concert in Ekeberghallen today, November 7. The headliner is the far from unknown group from Liverpool [sic], Slade. The four members are James Wild Lea on bass, Neville John Holder who sings and plays lead guitar, David John Hill also lead guitar and Donald George Powell on drums.  

It is primarily Lea who is responsible for the music, while Hill must take a lot of credit for the group’s visual "image". 

Powell has been away from the drums for a few months after a serious car accident. Because of amnesia, he had to learn all the tunes again. 

The music they play is said to be a reflection of their style of life. Slade plays pure, raw, brutal rock, somewhat simple in the eyes of many, but certainly catchy. 

Slade had had a comet-like career. From being a mediocre band, they have over the past year matured musically and has had a number of singles and LPs. It is enough to mention hits like Coz I Luv You, Gudby t'Jane, Look Wot You Dun, Cum On Feel the Noize, Skweeze Me Pleeze Me and My Friend Stan. So far, the LPs are "Play It Loud", "Slade Alive", "Slayer", "Sladest" and another is expected in the near future. "Sladest" is actually a collection of their best known songs to date. 

The increasing interest in Slade can be partly attributed to audiences having grown tired of complicated pop music, and are more ready to accept the group’s uncomplicated music."

Aftenposten: 7th November 1973

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Germany, November, 1973

On The Road with Slade

Monday 18.30 pm

A dark green Bus rolls through the rush hour stuffed streets of Frankfurt. Packed with over 20 Journalists and radio people from all parts of the West German Republic - their aim, the Jahrhunderthalle (Centennial Hall) in Höchst. They all came to witness the start to the third German Tour of  the most successful British Singles Band for many years: 

SLADE ! It`s Nov. 12 1973 

Whether large or small,

The audience were raving.

I am sitting in the bus as well and next to me, photographer Gesine, we`re the official representatives of POP. Camera shutters are clicking, test film rolls are loaded and lenses added, then the press mob storms the bright lighted Jahrhunderthalle where already two and a half thousand kids are getting themselves in the mood vocally for the main attraction tonight.

Not every venue was as full as Frankfurt tonight – in Deutschland Halle, Berlin, (probably too big for Slade) only around 1500 turned up, Hanover`s Nidersachsenhalle it’s satisfactory but... not really full...

In Heidelberg Slade played to the smallest audience of the whole Tour – maybe

because Ike & Tina Turner are playing right next to them in another venue that same night.

 But in Hamburg, Munich and Vienna the venues are bursting. Everywhere they’re up on the seats, stomping, raving singing along and clapping their hands and all that starts even before a single group member has hit the stage. 

Lucky Roadies – there`s no other band around - where their work: laying cables, setting up amps and plugging in instruments is awarded with such applause as that of a Slade gig. 

Anyway, the audience! The magic word at Slade Gigs is “crazy” or better ”crazee”! Being nuts is trump. Slade are crazee ( or they’re pretending to be) and their audience is crazee ( at least for one hour when the show is running). 

SLADE ARE A KIDS CARNIVAL

The Kids are going to a Slade show with the same attitude their parents would have going to the Carnival. 

They’re putting on their crazy costumes and going wild, being Noddy or Dave, there were some real good Noddy look-a-likes, one of the best had his photo taken beside Noddy himself. 

Anyone that doesn't want to be tarted up fully wears, at the very least, a Top hat, hooped socks, tartan trousers or some glitter on their face, or maybe a Slade scarf, badge or T-Shirt at least. I guess if Slade’s bass player had worn a false nose I would've seen them here as well. 

To complete the Carnival party there’s even confetti as Dave Hill throws a handful of glitter over the audience. 

What follows isn’t the hard bitten aggression like it was at the early Stones Gigs but rather a deafening party in a strictly positive way. Everybody has a hell of a lot of fun stomping and jumping and shouting but never going over the line, just like their parents when they having a ball singing along to their carnival songs except that the parents are quite drunk at that stage - the kids don’t need alcohol to loosen up. Lucky Kids! 

NODDY STAGGERS TOTALLY BLADDERED

After the gig everybody’s taken for a after show party in the basement bar of Slade’s Hotel.

Slade had a lot of parties during the tour, in every City they easily find a reason for feasting and collective boozing. In Hanover, Ike and Tina Turner were placed in the same hotel like Slade, everybody let it all hang out all night long and at the end they swapped groupies. 

In Frankfurt, Noddy staggers - totally bladdered but wearing a big grin over his face - over to Gesine, the photographer, to take her for a Twist (he means the dance) which he lays down perfectly despite his advanced condition. 

Next day at 12 noon everybodys meeting at the airport and - surprise ,surprise - Slade have fully recovered but the journalists are all suffering from a giant hang-over. 

FOWARD IN THE  SLADE-EXPRESS

There`s 30 Seater Chartered Jet “The Slade Express” waiting for us, in which Slade are going to travel to and from all the places they´re going to play. 

Slade are in the check in area looking to see if they will be spotted by anybody. But this time around, there`s nobody and so we make our way through the photographers, escorted by TV Cameras, to the plane. Somehow I feel like a Slade extra, but it`s a silly and pompous idea: At the front the photographers, flanked by the TV staff with a happy looking Slade in the centre and followed by a horde of Journalists. 

 Once on the plane, a Stewardess puts a  cardboard ”Noddy” tophat (with little silver stars stuck on it) on our heads and a drum (the label inside says it costs 2 marks 65), after that we`re given a SLADE Matchbox and Slade Fist patch plus champagne and a meal. (The Stewardess earned two immoral offers.)  

In the meantime we've set off and are up in the air. (Outside: galeforce 12!) A few hours later Coastal Towns reporting storm surge and the “Halligen” (A group of Islands in the northern sea) are flooded. While we`re moving forward, jerky but steady. 

That`s quite funny because all the photographers who took place upfront, to take shots of the band are taking a flying leap every now and then! 

All the latest Slade Hits are roaring out of the on-board stereo system, and everybody is wearing a cardboard Slade Top Hat and in their hands a vomit bag but thirst has been reactivated by the champagne, (see: “Happy Kids”) and, just for a change, party-time breaks loose at 29,527 feet.

The group, placed up front are pretending to sing along for the TV crew. Everybody`s happy, cardboard hats and photographers are thrown all across the plane.... and then we`re already in Hamburg.

HAPPY SLADE!

POP  presents:

Slade On tour
Pay attention.  It's happening all over again.  POP present Slade on tour in Germany.  Noddy Holder, Dave Hill, Jimmy Lea and, back after that serious car accident, Don Powell shred through six German cities: 

12.11.1973 FRANKFURT, JAHRHUNDERTHALLE 

13.11.1973 HAMBURG, MUSIKHALLE
14.11.1973 BERLIN, DEUTSCHLANDHALLE
17.11.1973 MANNHEIM, ROSENGARTEN
19.11.1973 WIEN, GROSSES KONZERTHAUS
20.11.1973 MUNCHEN ZIRKUS KRONE

(Ed:- Bear in mind that these dates are incorrest, the actual dates have been recorded below, to the best of our knowledge and are still subject to change, as and when we get confirmation?)

Attention
Slade dates changed
The concert dates for Slade have been shifted:
Contrary to our message in this edition, Slade will play on the 14:11 in Hanover and on the 15:11 in Berlin.  

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Many thanks to Christopher Hjort who has assisted Chris Selby with his Norwegian research and is responsible for the translation above. Much appreciation also to Ralle for making the Pop magazine available for me to use and for being kind enough to translate the text for me. A big shout to Dragula on the forums for his assistance. Musikhalle video courtesy of Dave Graham at Slade In England and Slade Express video source provided by Gary Jordan. I hope to update with more info as and when?

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European Tour: Autumn 1973 (known dates)

25/10/1973 Forest National, Bruxelles 
26/10/1973 Courtray, Belgium 
27/10/1973 Zofligen, Switzerland 
29/10/1973 Paris, France
30/10/1973 Poitiers, France 
31/10/1973 Bordeaux, France 

05/11/1973 Oslo, Norway 
06/11/1973 Bergen, Norway 
08/11/1973 Gothenburg, Sweden 
09/11/1973 K B  Hallen, Copenhagen 
10/11/1973 Vejlby Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark 

12/11/1973 Frankfurt/Hochst Jahrhunderthalle
13/11/1973 Hamburg Musikhalle
14/11/1973 Hannover Niedersachsenhalle
15/11/1973 Berlin Deutschlandhalle
17/11/1973 Mannheim/Heidelberg Rosengarten
19/11/1973 Wien Austria Grosses Konzerthaus
19/11/1973 Heidelberg/Eppelheim - Rhein-Neckar Halle
20/11/1973 Munchen Zirkus Krone

European Tour, Fall 1972

October 1972

Slade had recently been voted 'Group of the Year' by Radio Luxembourg and the group had been presented with the award live during the 'Radio Luxembourg Grand Prix' on the 19th October.

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.

208 Tamla nights go down a bomb!

"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 ...."

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.

"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

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.

"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. 

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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.

"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

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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).

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.

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! "

PIM OETS: NRC Handelsblad, 23rd October 1972
(*security or doormen I assume. Ed)

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.

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Forest National, Bruxelles, Belgium. October 22nd, 1972

** I'm hoping to find a review for this gig in the not too distant future. **

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Musikhalle großer Saal, Hamburg, Germany. October 25th, 1972

This is the poster used for the German appearances with Fanny but I've not found one for Wednesday the 25th. October yet.

(If anybody should see one, please let me know.)

Hamburg shipping magnate, Carl Heinrich Laeisz stated in his will that the company F. Laeisz should donate 1.2 million German Reichsmark for the construction of 'a place worthy of the performance and for the enjoyment of noble and serious music'. The sum was later increased by his widow Sophie Christine Laeisz. The architects Martin Haller and Erwin Meerwein erected the Musikhalle, which became the home of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. It is a neo-baroque concert hall that still remains, to this day, one of the most beautiful in Europe. 

I wonder what Carl thought when Slade came to town. 

German Slade fan, Rolf Thallmann, was at the Musikhalle that night and he certainly enjoyed Slade's performance.

Photographer, Heinrich Klaffs, was also at the show and he took these excellent black & white shots that show Slade in great shape.

Classic Dave Hill images dominate this collection of photographs.

This silver suit was probably his most credible glam look and certainly defined an era in Slade history.

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.

Either way, the photos are an excellent record of the night and great to see.

"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

Photos by Heinrich Klaffs

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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....

1. Hear Me Calling
2. Look Wot You Dun
3. Coz I Luv You
4. Know Who You Are
5. Keep on Rocking
6. Move Over
7. Gudbuy T'Jane
8. Take Me Bak 'Ome
9. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
10. Get Down and Get With It

Which would be a fair guess but it seems a bit short.

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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'

After their brief interlude at Wembley, Slade returned to Germany for an appearance in Frankfurt. The domed Jahrhunderthalle (Centennial Hall) building holds 4,800, was designed by F. W. Kraemer and built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the chemical company, Farbwerke Hoechst AG, in 1963.

It would appear that the Slade gig was originally intended for the previous day. The Sunday date is crossed out on the right of the ticket and much greater detail is hidden beneath the pattern block on the left. 

It seems a Sunday afternoon matinee performance was originally arranged. It could be the Wembley charity event caused problems but there should have been plenty of time for ticket changes. The posters had no date problem?

"We where driving to Frankfurt to see the worlds best Female Rock Band of that time, FANNY."

 "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

Slade doing their 'Ballermann Rock'... 

Ballermann is not generally regarded as praise in Germany, The term derived from the German equivalent of '18-30' holidays (specifically Mallorca) and is used in a similar way to the current British term of 'Chav'.

However, Klaus says "Ballermann Rock is not directly a bad meaning. It means good old Stimmungsmusik/Funmusik for people who likes to dance." as opposed to deep and meaningful rock music. 

Well, that was the group's main objective, 'Boisterous Rock', not a bad thing after all then?

  

Photos by Klaus Hiltscher

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Circus Krone Bau, Munich, Germany. October 31st.

The Krone Bau is the Munich home of the Circus Krone, started by Carl Krone in 1905. The building is used for circus events in the winter months of November through till March, at which time the circus takes to the road. The Circus Krone Bau is then available as a venue for rock and pop concerts. The two legendary Beatles concerts of 1966 are probably the most well known Circus Krone music events and, given Chas Chandler's obsession with them, must have pleased him no end.. 

Unfortunately, I have found no Slade photos of this gig yet but if I do they will be posted here.

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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)