Keep on Rocking!

That's not only the standard sign-off strap-line on postings to S L A D E fora, it's also how Noddy Holder (aka The Great God Nod) ends his autobiography. I've been meaning to read it for the past month or so but only got round to reading it today - and read it right through in one sitting. Fascinating stuff, a lot of which I already knew in outline, but great to read about Noddy's life in his own words.

He'll be 60 next year, and it's S L A D E's 40th anniversary as well... might that mean a proper retrospective might be issued? or a DVD? or a proper (glossy) book about them? or (sharp intake of breath) a reunion? I wouldn't put anything past the Lords of Noize!

It was a stroll down memory lane in some respects, and not just for the S L A D E memories. Noddy's description of his home and way of life in the '50s wasn't that different in some respects from mine in the '60s. Except we always had an indoor toilet and bathroom, of course.

The book focuses on Noddy growing up in the '50s and '60s, the early days in the 'N Betweens and months spent in Germany, becoming Ambrose Slade and then dropping the 'Ambrose' to become global gods everywhere but America. The period from about 1978 to 1991 is only briefy covered and 1991-1998 is only a few pages. The glory years of the early '70s are covered nicely and invoked many memories for me. Lots of name dropping, of course, and a crash course on how he invented his famous mirrored top hat - all lovely stuff.

As a result of reading the book I've just downloaded 'You Boyz Make Big Noize' from iTunes, the last album I need to complete my S L A D E collection. It's sad how many of their albums just aren't available on CD - or, rather, have been discontinued. The 'greatest hits' is still available but that doesn't even include all the hits. And I want the 'B' sides as well! I'll just have to be satisfied with I've got... for the moment ...