📰 "I can see why they were scared of us!" – Feature : Sep. 1972
- Slade
- Jul 23, 1972
- 3 min read
A lively one-page interview with Slade bassist Jimmy Lea (conducted by Robin Mackie) looks back at the band’s rapid rise, their skinhead-to-glam transformation, and the mixture of fear and excitement they provoked in the music industry and among audiences.
Jimmy speaks candidly about the early days, the band’s determination, and how their raw energy and working-class attitude made them both loved and feared.
This September 23, 1972 Record Mirror feature captures Slade at the height of their chart dominance, reflecting on how a bunch of “noisy lads from Wolverhampton” had become one of the most successful and polarising acts in British pop.
đź—ž Record Mirror
đź“… Date: September 23, 1972
⏱ Length: 6 min read
đź“° Key Highlights
• Jimmy Lea discusses the band’s early struggles and rapid breakthrough
• Reflection on the skinhead image, the shift to glam, and the strong reactions they received
• Emphasis on Slade’s tight live performances and their refusal to tone down their energy
• Insight into the band’s camaraderie, humour, and working-class roots
• Jimmy’s pride in how far they had come and their confidence as a “great band”
đź“° Overview
Published in the September 23, 1972 issue of Record Mirror as the concluding part of a series on Slade, this one-page feature gives Jimmy Lea the chance to reflect on the band’s journey. It portrays Slade as a tight-knit, ambitious group that overcame scepticism and industry nervousness to become one of the biggest British acts of the early 1970s.
đź“° Source Details
Publication / Venue: Record Mirror
Date: September 23, 1972
Format: Feature interview (concluding part)
Provenance Notes: Verified directly from the preserved magazine page; single-page layout with a large dramatic photograph of Noddy Holder and bold headline quoting Jimmy Lea.
đź“° The Story
Jimmy Lea opens by acknowledging that many people were initially scared of Slade’s raw energy and working-class image. He recounts the band’s early days playing small clubs, their skinhead phase, and the moment they decided to embrace a more colourful glam look without losing their stomping, no-nonsense attitude.
The interview highlights how the band’s live performances — loud, fun, and physically intense — won over audiences even when the press or industry figures were wary. Jimmy speaks with pride about their camaraderie, their work ethic, and the fact that they always believed in themselves as “a great band.” He also touches on the balance between commercial success and staying true to their roots.
A large black-and-white live photograph of Noddy Holder in full energetic performance mode dominates the page, visually reinforcing the band’s powerful stage presence.
đź“° Visual Archive
Large black-and-white live photograph of Noddy Holder singing passionately on stage, with the band visible in the background. The image is placed prominently beside the bold headline and interview text.
Caption: Noddy Holder of Slade featured in the Record Mirror article “I can see why they were scared of us!”, September 23, 1972.
đź“° Related Material
See tabs at foot of page
đź“° Closing Notes
This September 1972 Record Mirror interview with Jimmy Lea is a warm, honest reflection on Slade’s extraordinary rise. It shows a band that was never afraid to be loud, colourful, and themselves — and how that fearless attitude turned them into one of the most successful and beloved British groups of the glam era.
đź“ť 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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