📰 Slade and the Masses – Review : Nov. 1972
- Slade
- Nov 18, 1972
- 2 min read
A lively and affectionate review captures the raucous energy of Slade’s concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre, where Noddy Holder and the band turned the venue into a football-terrace-style singalong.
The writer contrasts the controlled chaos of Slade’s performance with the more polished Osmonds show seen the previous week, clearly enjoying the raw, crowd-pleasing power of the Wolverhampton glam rockers.
This November 1972 review perfectly encapsulates Slade at their peak — a band that could turn a rock gig into a boisterous, communal party and still deliver hit after hit.
🗞 Record Mirror
📅 Date: November 18, 1972
⏱ Length: 4 min read
📰 Key Highlights
• Vivid description of Slade’s high-energy Rainbow Theatre show
• Noddy Holder portrayed as an arch showman who had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the start
• Mention of the band’s ability to mix past hits with old favourites into an entertaining hour-long set
• Comparison with the Osmonds concert from the previous week, noting Slade’s more raucous, football-crowd atmosphere
• Positive comments on support act Thin Lizzy and their tight, imaginative three-piece set
📰 Overview
In mid-November 1972, Record Mirror reviewed Slade’s concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London. The piece celebrates the band’s ability to create a massive, participatory singalong atmosphere and highlights their growing status as one of Britain’s most entertaining live acts during the glam era.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: Record Mirror
Date: November 18, 1972
Format: Concert review
Provenance Notes: Verified directly from the preserved magazine clipping; typical Record Mirror single-column review layout of the early 1970s.
📰 The Story
The review begins by contrasting the previous week’s Osmonds show with Slade’s more raucous, football-terrace energy. Noddy Holder is described as a larger-than-life entertainer — part comedian, part rock star — who had the entire audience singing along from the opening moments. The writer notes that Slade were now in a position where they could fill much of their set with older favourites while still sounding fresh and exciting.
Special praise is given to the band’s ability to make the crowd feel involved, with Holder talking to the audience like a friendly doctor or cheeky granddad. The review also gives a quick positive mention to support act Thin Lizzy, describing them as a tight, cool, and imaginative three-piece who added a new dimension to the bill.
📰 Visual Archive
Plain text review clipping with no accompanying photograph, set in standard newspaper columns. The bold “LIVE!” header and “Slade” sub-head stand out clearly against the dense body text.
Caption: Record Mirror concert review of Slade at the Rainbow Theatre, November 18, 1972.
📰 Related Material
See tabs at foot of page
📰 Closing Notes
This warm and enthusiastic 1972 Record Mirror review captures Slade in their prime — a band that turned every gig into a joyous, communal celebration. It remains a great snapshot of the unpretentious, high-energy appeal that made them one of glam rock’s most beloved live acts.
📝 Copyright Notice
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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