'Jim Lea - For One Night Only' DVD by Jim Lea

Jim Lea, also known as Jimmy Lea and James Whild Lea, was the bass player and multi-instrumentalist in SLADE and co-wrote the songs including all those hits in the '70s and early '80s. The SLADE wires on social media were buzzing last week after Jim hosted a special screening of his new DVD at the Robin 2, took part in a Q&A and then brought on his guitar and played four songs to send the crowd away happy. I wasn't there but I have his DVD and it's wonderful to see Jim on stage again after all these years - I last saw him on stage in 1981.

Since leaving SLADE Jim has only performed one proper live gig and that's the subject of this DVD. He did a one-off gig at the Robin 2 in Bilston in 2002 and the 'launch' screening of the DVD was also at the Robin 2. The DVD wasn't professionally filmed but some really good fan footage came to light and that's what this DVD is based on, with additional shots of Jim talking about each of the songs earlier this year. The live music is very familiar since the live albums first released as a download only a decade ago and then again last year as part of the re-release of Jim's album 'Therapy'. The live album is excellent, full of energy and is best played loud.

The gig footage in the DVD is new and has never been seen before. It's a bit rough and ready, a bit wobbly in places since it's fan video, but I think that actually enhances it. This isn't a professional gig - the two band members only met the afternoon of the gig - but the raw energy brings it all to life and is a great credit to Jim, the 'non-showman' in the band who puts on a great show that is thoroughly enjoyable. I had a huge grin of happiness on my face throughout this gig.

The excitement and video footage following the 'launch' last week made me want to see this DVD *now*. It was on my Christmas list for Santa but I decided I needed to see it *now* and I'm so pleased I did. Jim is still fighting off cancer and didn't want to promise to play live if he did't feel up to it so it was a great surprise that he played at all last week. Let's send best wishes to Jim Lea and hope for a full recovery... and then some gigs please!

Once a Lord of Noize always a Lord of Noize!

50th Anniversary for Don Powell & Dave Hill

Don Powell's website has announced the news that it's 50 years since he and Dave first played live together on 3 January 1964. Don's site tells us that he joined The Vendors in early 1963, Dave joined in December 1963 and the first live gig with both Don and Dave in the band was on 3 January 1964 at the Three Men In A Boat pub in Walsall. That's a pretty astonishing partnership considering they're both still touring together.

Then:

Now:

Noddy Holder and Jim Lea joined Dave and Don in 1966 and, after name changes, became the mighty SLADE and had their first Number 1 hit single in 1971. I bought that single, 'Coz I Luv You'. I first saw them live in 1973 and the last time I saw them play was in, I think, 1981. After that gig at the student union in Cardiff I was helping to get their equipment out of the hall and into the truck and Dave Hill offered me a cigarette, a Benson & Hedges, and I said 'no thanks'. How could I take a cigarette from a god?

I last saw Dave and Don's Slade on 18 December 2011 and they were in fine form, banging out a set of hit after hit after hit from the '70s and '80s. It was great fun to see them play again and sing 'Merry Xmas Everybody' a matter of days before the big day itself.

The gig was recorded for charity and is available as 'Slade - Live at Koko'.

SLADE are far more than just a Christmas song but it's a pretty damn good one. Of course, they've now had a new Christmas hit with 'Everyday' entering the lower reaches of the singles chart, peaking at No. 69 in December, on the back of being used in the Christmas advert for the Nexus 7. I hope it will start turning up on Christmas compilation records.

Congratulations to Don and Dave!

SLADE In The Singles Chart Again!

Like a pre-Christmas miracle, SLADE are back in the singles chart with 'Everyday' at No. 93 with not even a merry Christmas in sight.

At this time of year SLADE are usually hovering around with the perennial 'Merry Christmas Everybody' that has been in the charts more times than I care to remember. This year it looks like 'Everyday' will be a new Christmas hit for them. 'Everyday' narrates the new advert for the Nexus 7 tablet with a dad away at sea on a merchant ship contacting his family on Christmas Day: "Everyday when I'm away, I'm thinking of you..." sings Sir Noddy. It was a real surprise to hear Noddy singing on telly again, especially singing the overlooked 'Everyday'.

I blogged about this last week when I was wondering if it would be a hit and this week it looks like it could well be. Of course, I don't want to jinx it by saying it will be, but who knows...?

'Everyday' reached No 3 in 1974 with SLADE's first ballad as the follow-up to 'Merry Christmas Everybody'. I've got no idea if the band was relieved or disappointed that it didn't go into the chart at No 1 like three of their singles in 1973 - that's a lot to live up to. And that's when bands had to sell half a million records to get to No 1, not the mere thousands these days. It's from the 'Old, New, Borrowed and Blue' album.

If you want to see the Nexus 7 advert or SLADE singing 'Everyday' on Top of the Pops back on the day, then just scroll a bit further down and enjoy.

There's now a campaign on Facebook asking people to download the song to help it move higher up the chart and, you know what? I think I will download it despite having the song several times on vinyl and CD. It can't hurt. Go on, do the same, eh? 

SLADE aren't just for Christmas, but ...

Sorry to mention Christmas so early in the year but a very special Christmas present is being planned for all SLADE fans. No, not the fabled reunion (which *will* happen one day, I have faith) but a night devoted to SLADE on BBC4 just before Christmas.

The special night will include the 'It's SLADE' documentary, 'SLADE in Flame' (often referred to as one of the best rock films ever made) and a special 'SLADE at the BBC' programme. This will feature archive performances not seen in full on UK television since they were originally broadcast and, I'm reliably informed, will include a missing performance of 'Coz I Luv You' from Top Of The Pops that has never been seen before. Might I say 'cor!'?  'Coz I Luv You' was the first SLADE single I bought back in 1971 and I still have it.

Last Christmas I was lucky enough to see three quarters of SLADE - Sir Noddy Holder at Union Chapel narrating 'A Christmas Carol' and Dave and Don with their version of Slade at Koko (will the DVD of that show ever be issued?). Sadly, I haven't seen Jim Lea since about 1981 but there's time yet.

I was also lucky to see Noddy compere the Marc Bolan 35th Anniversary Concert on Saturday night (blog to follow about that) and he's looking good. I *think* he even sang along to 'Hot Love' at the end of the show. And his was the final voice of the evening when he shouted out his trademarked 'Keep on rocking!' at the top of his voice. We will, Noddy, we will!