Whatever Happened to Slade?
When the Whole World Went Crazee
Will be published approx. on 29. August 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
480 pages
978-1-915841-49-0 (ISBN)
Description
Slade were the most iconic group of the 1970s glam rock era. Although the original quartet - Dave Hill, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea and Don Powell - ceased working as a unit in the nineties, memories of the group remain strong, thanks mainly to their remarkable, enduring, festive single, 'Merry Xmas Everybody'.
But there is so much more to the band than just that one record. Whatever Happened To Slade? is the first serious biography of the group in over three decades. It details the complete story of this singular band, as well as the personal histories of the four individuals who combined to turn Slade into a genuine phenomenon.
Whatever Happened To Slade? charts their emergence from the 1960s beat boom, their initial successes, their epoch-making glam heyday, the group's attempts to crack America, Slade In Flame, their bleak, retrospectively adored film, their re-emergence as hard rocking heavyweights, through to their final dissolution and post-Slade careers.
Drawing on hours of new interviews and meticulous research, with a foreword by Bob Geldof and an afterword by Jim Moir, Whatever Happened To Slade? reassesses a band that won hearts and perforated eardrums across four incident-filled, bittersweet decades.
But there is so much more to the band than just that one record. Whatever Happened To Slade? is the first serious biography of the group in over three decades. It details the complete story of this singular band, as well as the personal histories of the four individuals who combined to turn Slade into a genuine phenomenon.
Whatever Happened To Slade? charts their emergence from the 1960s beat boom, their initial successes, their epoch-making glam heyday, the group's attempts to crack America, Slade In Flame, their bleak, retrospectively adored film, their re-emergence as hard rocking heavyweights, through to their final dissolution and post-Slade careers.
Drawing on hours of new interviews and meticulous research, with a foreword by Bob Geldof and an afterword by Jim Moir, Whatever Happened To Slade? reassesses a band that won hearts and perforated eardrums across four incident-filled, bittersweet decades.
Reviews / Votes
A Sunday Times Book of the Year 2023"An extensive, entertaining and illuminating look at the mercurial if qualified success story of one of Britain's greatest hit making bands. A must have for the music buff." Phil Jupitus
"Informative and thoroughly readable... one of the joys is the context in which it places both the band's music as well as the young men who made it." Telegraph
"A clear headed analysis" Record Collector
"Slade should be revered. Here's a book that does that." Bob Geldof
"The combination of Daryl's writing skills, research and contributions from fans has cumulated in a book that gives Slade the serious recognition it deserves." Jim Lea (Slade)
"Makes me want to go and investigate the obscure corners of the catalogue, which is always the sign of a great bio." Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
"At last! An author with insight, sympathy and commitment has written a substantial book about Slade that dissects the highs and lows of a career that is unique in the annals of British pop" Chris Charlesworth, Just Backdated
"Daryl Easlea analyses Slade's phenomenal career with a serious eye, placing them in context between Bowie and Mud and evoking a world of 'backstreet boozers with their pickled eggs and Big D peanut displays.'" Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times
"One of the joys of the informative and thoroughly readable new book . . . is the context in which it places both the band's music as well as the young men who made it." Ian Winwood, The Daily Telegraph
**** "A true labour of love" Andy Fyfe, Mojo
**** "(A) comprehensive analysis of all things loud and yobbish" Joel McIver, Record Collector
8/10 "A thorough, detailed, probably definitive appraisal." David Stubbs, Classic Rock
"An engaging account of . . . one of the most underrated and influential bands of the 1970s." Iain Key, Louder Than War
"The definitive final word on the band's four-decade career" The Afterword
"An appropriately foot-stomping account of the Slade story" Peter Gallagher, Shindig
"An excellent in-depth history of the much-undervalued band whose Merry Xmas Everybody has become such an important part of the festive season." Choice Magazine
"This is the new Slade bible" Don Powell (Slade)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight
474 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915841-49-0 (9781915841490)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Daryl Easlea is a writer, DJ and music consultant. He is at his happiest writing about African-American pop or great musical eccentrics. He has written critically-acclaimed biographies on CHIC, Sparks, Michael Jackson and Peter Gabriel.
Daryl Easlea was in music retail between 1979 and 1997, and left to belatedly take his degree in American History and International History at Keele, where he also ran the student radio station. He began writing professionally in 1999. After graduating in 2000, he became the deputy editor at Record Collector, where he remains a regular contributor. His work has also appeared in Mojo, various Q and Mojo specials, Prog Magazine, The Guardian, Uncut, Dazed & Confused, The Independent, Socialism, The Glasgow Herald, The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and bbc.co.uk.
Daryl Easlea was in music retail between 1979 and 1997, and left to belatedly take his degree in American History and International History at Keele, where he also ran the student radio station. He began writing professionally in 1999. After graduating in 2000, he became the deputy editor at Record Collector, where he remains a regular contributor. His work has also appeared in Mojo, various Q and Mojo specials, Prog Magazine, The Guardian, Uncut, Dazed & Confused, The Independent, Socialism, The Glasgow Herald, The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and bbc.co.uk.