📰 Slade Have Got It Made – Feature : Nov. 1971
- Slade
- Nov 20, 1971
- 3 min read
A warm, down-to-earth one-page feature portrays Slade as a grounded, hardworking gang of lads who have earned their sudden chart success through relentless live work and genuine camaraderie.
The piece highlights their no-nonsense attitude, refusal to chase trends, and determination to stay true to their club-circuit roots even as fame arrives.
This November 1971 Melody Maker article captures Slade right at the tipping point of their breakthrough, when they were still the same boisterous Wolverhampton boys — just with a few hit singles and a growing army of fans.
🗞 Melody Maker
📅 Date: November 20, 1971
⏱ Length: 6 min read
📰 Key Highlights
• Slade described as a “down to earth bunch of guys” who remain unchanged by success
• Emphasis on their tireless live work in clubs across the country
• Manager Chas Chandler’s guidance and the band’s strong work ethic
• Dave Hill’s pride in their skinhead image and refusal to alter it for fame
• Plans for the next album and their straightforward, no-nonsense approach to music
📰 Overview
Published in the November 20, 1971 issue of Melody Maker, this one-page feature presents Slade as authentic, unaffected working-class rockers who have finally broken through after years of hard graft on the club circuit. The article celebrates their current chart success while stressing that fame has not altered their core identity or attitude.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: Melody Maker
Date: November 20, 1971
Format: Feature article
Provenance Notes: Verified directly from the preserved magazine page; single-page layout with large live photograph of Noddy Holder and smaller shots of the band members.
📰 The Story
The feature opens by calling Slade “a down to earth bunch of guys” and notes how their consistent live appearances in every type of venue have finally paid off with chart recognition. Under Chas Chandler’s management, the band has maintained a strong work ethic and a cheerful, unpretentious image on stage.
Lead guitarist Dave Hill speaks proudly about their skinhead roots and insists the band has no intention of changing to suit the charts. The piece also covers their upcoming album, their love of playing small clubs, and their realistic approach to success — they want to enjoy it but refuse to let it go to their heads. A strong sense of camaraderie and humour runs through the band’s comments.
The page features a large dramatic live shot of Noddy Holder mid-performance with arms outstretched, plus smaller portraits of Dave Hill, Jim Lea, and Don Powell, reinforcing the band’s energetic and approachable image.
📰 Visual Archive
Large black-and-white live photograph of Noddy Holder singing passionately with arms raised, plus three smaller portraits of Dave Hill, Jim Lea, and Don Powell. The bold headline “Slade have got it made” dominates the centre of the page.
Caption: Slade featured in the Melody Maker article “Slade Have Got It Made,” November 20, 1971.
📰 Related Material
See tabs at foot of page
📰 Closing Notes
This November 1971 Melody Maker feature remains a charming portrait of Slade at the very beginning of their chart dominance. It celebrates their authenticity and working-class spirit, reminding us why their loud, stomping glam sound connected so strongly with fans — because the band never forgot where they came from.
📝 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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