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Slade music biography continued...

Dave Hill, bassist Jimmy Lea, and drummer Don Powell, the group changed their name a few times and tried various looks before they arrived at Slade, started penning their own tunes, and grew their hair long, emulating the glam rockers of the period. This new direction paid off in 1971 with the number 16 U.K. single "Get Down and Get With It," which soon touched off a string of classic singles. All in all Slade scored a staggering 11 Top Five hits in a four-year span from 1971 to 1974, including "Coz I Luv You," "Look Wot You Dun," "Take Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," "Gudbuy t'Jane," and "Cum on Feel the Noize." The hit tunes made Slade one of the UK's most beloved party bands and although they could not crack the American market, Slade continued to release hit singles in the UK. Even when glam rock fell out of favor, the band stuck to their formula and energetic stage presence and continued to perform and release albums, including 1977's humorously titled What Ever Happened to Slade? The band finally broke into the American market in 1983, when a cover of "Cum on Feel the Noise" was recorded by Quiet Riot, and hit the pop charts, finally bringing Slade the attention they deserved.



Despite another all-new studio release, Rogues Gallery, and Quiet Riot covering another classic Slade tune ("Mama Weer All Crazee Now"), Slade was unable to retain their newfound American audience or rekindled British following and they eventually faded from view once more, this time without a comeback waiting around the corner. In 2007, Powell and Hill, the group's founding members formed Slade II with three other local musicians. They have released one album, which has been retitled a number of times and also a few singles in Europe. Though nothing has rivaled their earlier successes Slade has remained a significant influence on a variety of bands that would follow, ranging from Kiss to The Ramones.