The majority of this interview came together as I threw myself deeper and deeper into writing, researching and editing Wild! Wild! Wild! A People’s History of Slade. And while this scribe rarely warms to covers and tribute bands (although there are exceptions), I felt the need to help spread the word about an inspired twist on that often rather tired notion – an all-female take on Slade, one clearly blessed with talent and creativity. Besides, as lead singer Danie Cox, aka Gobby Holder, told Adam Smith, for the Shropshire Star in 2022, ‘We are the female Slade, not a tribute act.’

First, a little background, London-based South Wales singer-songwriter Danie inspired to get the band together after catching Dave Hill’s Slade live at a festival in 2019. Danie, who cut her performing teeth out front with glam and punk outfit The Featherz, told the aforementioned Adam Smith, “I phoned my friend, Jem and asked if she’d give it a go, but I didn’t think it would be any more than playing ‘Cum on Feel the Noize’ down the pub. But after our first gig and social media, the demand for us was insane. There is so much love for Slade, it is unbelievable.”

From humble beginnings, Slady soon came into their own, the band going on to meet and get to know all four members of the original band and play the Slade fan convention in Wolverhampton en route, the band managed by Dave Kemp – the man credited with keeping Slade alive by restarting the fan club back in the late ‘70s wilderness years – in those early days, up until he passed away in early December 2020. This year alone, their recent itinerary including a rousing full-band appearance at Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival, and – last weekend – an acoustic set from the pared-down version of the band at Slade’s old Black Country local, The Trumpet in Bilston, a fundraiser to help keep the place running after a recent burglary.

Much of the interview that follows found its way into the book, but there’s more besides, and I felt it deserved its own space. As it’s a three-way affair, so to speak, I’ve marked it as such, the questions and responses marked up accordingly between myself (MW), Danie (DC), and Wendy Solomon, aka Jem Lea (WS). And now I’m done with the pre-amble, other than to say the words came together in late April, and there’s a brief update at the end from last weekend, followed by ticket links for Sunday’s 7pm headline appearance by Slady at a special event – with tickets FREE and more details here – at the Boogaloo on Archway Road, Highgate, an official London launch for Wild! Wild! Wild! A People’s History of Slade. If you can make it, we’d love to see you. Be there… be Nobody’s Fools.

MW: You’re clearly far, far away too young to have caught Slade alive in all their pomp. Let’s face it, I count myself very lucky that I saw them at the tender age of 15 (Hammersmith Odeon, Xmas ’82). What were your first memories of Slade? Was it ‘that record’, as Don would say? And was it on the radio, the telly, or played at home? Were your folks Slade fans?

DC: ‘My first memories of Slade were when I was a kid and trying to count how many choruses of ‘that song’ till the ‘IT’S CHRISTMAAAASSSSSS!’ part, just so I could perfect it. It wasn’t until I was about 14 and watching TOTP2 on BBC 2 back in the mid-2000s that I saw them doing ‘Cum on Feel the Noize’, just when I was getting into Bowie, and Alice Cooper, and Buzzcocks. And I just loved that sexy rugged rock ‘n’ roll, almost punky approach to glam, where it wasn’t about make-up but about dressing like farmer clowns, and metallic nuns, and screaming about having a good time.’ 

WS: ‘Same for me really! I think the Xmas song is kind of so ingrained into popular culture that it is almost impossible to grow up in this country and not be aware of Noddy Holder and Slade. It wasn’t until much later that I even realised they were a serious band! I think that is the real double-edged sword of a hit like that – young people still very much have those misconceptions about Slade. Being a child of the late Eighties I kind of missed the gritty rock ‘n’ roll years and only caught the tail end with the big hair and studded belts! My folks were definitely not into hard rock ‘n’ roll, they were more Sixties kids into The Beatles and Peter, Paul and Mary! I was very much into post-punk stuff like Buzzcocks and The Undertones. It’s been a pleasure getting to know them though, for sure! I just wish it had been sooner.’

MW: I’m not a fan of tribute bands (there, I’ve said it) – too many venues offer little but that option these days – but I make a few exceptions … first having caught Bjorn Again way back (25 years ago next month, it turns out), enjoying first and foremost the comedy value of the bitching couples in the band between songs; having since been intrigued enough to catch Clash tribute act London Calling; and interviewing a member of The Bootleg Beatles (although I like to tell people The Beatles were actually a tribute act that ripped off The Rutles). But I love what I’ve heard of Slady, not least your spin on (occasionally) rather ‘of their time’ lyrics from a different era (e.g. your subtle rewording in ‘Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me’). Was that foremost in your mind when you came up with the concept, and why did you think this idea might work (because it clearly does)?

DC: ‘‘Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me’ is a great song and Slade hardly ever played it live, so we make sure we play it every set in its full glory, without glorifying a right to rape really. The lyrics were meant to be funny, I guess, but they’re not the greatest from Nod and Jim. I can’t sing, ‘And I thought you might like to know, when a girl’s meaning, ‘Yes’, she says, ‘No’.’ That’s just gross.’ 

WS: ‘I agree. It’s all too easy to just say, ‘Well, it’s of its time’ and let it go, but it’s definitely not something we could shrug off. In terms of being a tribute, we like to think we are more than just a copycat band. We are 100% authentic but we also have our own personalities and banter, which comes through in our stage shows. I like to think we keep the passion of the music but rather than just going through the motions and trying to replicate something, we have our own identities stamped firmly on it, with big ‘ol bovver boots. We are a band in our own right who play Slade songs, rather than just a tribute – if you know what I mean!

‘It was Danie that came up with the idea and approached me. Being less clued up about Slade, I agreed, not really knowing what I was letting myself in for in terms of learning the Jim Lea basslines! It was a bit of fun initially, but we quickly realised that people loved the concept and really got behind us, which encouraged us to go further with it. We were lucky enough to get a good response from the majority of long-term Slade fans, with only very minor hostility from the ones who felt threatened or lacked imagination, so it felt like a stamp of approval.’

MW: Did your love and understanding of the original band grow as a result of your Slady experience? Did you truly appreciate the Holder/Lea partnership before? They were clearly great performers, but there’s plenty of songwriting genius there too.

DC: ‘I think, since learning the songs, I can really appreciate that despite how simple the chords are, they are structured together so differently and have their own style. It’s really cool and also so much fun to learn.’ 

WS: ‘Again, I agree. I had no idea of the total genius of Jim Lea. The diversity within the material is astounding too, from pure sweaty headbangers to melodic and tender love songs with a bit of cabaret sprinkled on top. It’s been a challenge, but I have loved every minute.’

MW: If my sources are right, you’ve been at this for five years now. I’ve heard positive words from Don, and endorsements from Nod’s Suzan. Have you had a chance to speak to all the band, and if so, what have they told you? 

DC: ‘Yes, met and spoke to them all. Noddy said it’s just like looking in the mirror! Dave Hill has told us some songs we should throw into our set. Don Powell is a good friend, and Jim Lea and his brother, Frank stay in touch. I was honoured to be asked to perform at Don and Jim’s Q&A at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in August 2022. That was a memory I will always cherish.’ 

MW: What else would you class as your highlights along that five-year journey?

DC: ‘Meeting Noddy Holder outside Pret a Manger in Soho in 2021, dressed as his female counterpart, when he was promoting a Xmas sandwich in July, talking to him. He gave me a sandwich and I couldn’t eat it cos I’m Vegan, but I have it framed on my mantlepiece, like an award. It’s a bit mouldy now!’ 

WS: ‘Being at that Q&A and watching Danie perform was a really proud moment. Spoiling it all with my kazoo playing is something that will always make me laugh! Chatting with Don and Jim in the green room afterwards and literally horsing around down the pub later with Don. There are too many brilliant gigs to name really, every one of them memorable! Supporting The Rezillos was a great experience, as I am a bit of a fan of theirs. Playing Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom at Rebellion this year too is total ‘bucket list’ stuff. There are just so many highlights.’

MW: While this book includes plenty of snippets from my past interviews with Don, Dave and Jim (and Nod too, thanks to permission of a good friend), there are also plenty of tales from musicians inspired to get on a stage after seeing or hearing Slade at key points, and the fans who loved them then, in some cases keeping the faith, carrying on right to the end in ’92 (and often beyond, supporting Dave and Don’s ventures, etc.). I’m guessing you too get to feel the noize and warmth out there from fans. And perhaps in the way Slade had to win over their critics here and there (Lincoln Festival ’72 and Reading ‘80 spring to mind), I guess you’ve also had to overcome doubters on a nightly basis.

DC: ‘We do this entirely for the fans. That and the fun of it all. It’s really a truly special feeling being onstage in front of hundreds of people who have all come together in one room to celebrate their love of Slade. Seeing men and women of all ages, screaming out those songs, some even crying. Knowing that I’ve brought a special memory to people’s lives, as a vessel of the Slade experience. We don’t get critics at all really. We get the odd sexist comment or envious swipes, but that’s expected. We can’t make everyone as happy as we are.’ 

WS: ‘I agree it’s really special. It’s often about nostalgia for the fans, just capturing an essence of their youth through the songs, the atmosphere, the friends in the crowd. It’s pretty emotional at times and there is a real sense of poignancy underneath the joyous craziness of it all. The doubters are few and far between… and very lonely and sad…’

MW: What’s the dream for Slady from here? What happens next?

DC: ‘I’d really love to bring Slady to Europe, America and Australia. We’re really in big demand. I’d also love us to record more singles. Maybe even an album. And I’d also like us to perform on TV, like, on The One Show at Christmas or something.’ 

WS: ‘What she said!’

MW: Have you got favourite songs from the Slade catalogue? And if so, for what reasons?

DC: ‘’Nobody’s Fool’ is probably my ultimate favourite Slade song. I love that entire Nobody’s Fools album. It’s such a shame Slade didn’t really crack America. It’s a bit like Robbie Williams too. I really think Americans who are fans of Slade are really special people for ‘getting’ it all.’ 

WS: ‘I love playing ‘Nobody’s Fool’ too, but also enjoy the riotous three-chord bangers – but then I also love the intricacies of ‘Far, Far Away’, ‘She Did It to Me’ and ‘Wonderin’ Y’, etc. Real goosebumps stuff! There is so much variety, you can never tire of it.’

MW: And in summary, what else can you say in praise of Slade?

DC: ‘I love that the new-found family I have found is all the Slade fans we meet. We really do have so much fun in Slady.’

WS: ‘Not just a band but a way of life for the Slade family we have come to know over the last few years. It’s all about good times and good music, and keeping the noize alive.’     

Platform Bootnote: Seeing as a few months have gone by since this interview, I got in touch with Danie for an update last Friday, as – along with Wendy and David Woodcock, aka Slady’s Our Friend Stan – she made her way up to Wolverhampton ahead of a fundraiser for The Trumpet in Bilston, Slade’s old local and the location for many a Slade function down the decades.

And it appears that Danie has branched out of late, now rehearsing with a ‘60s soul and r&b covers band too, her bandmates including guitarist Andrew Hackett, of The Rockingbirds’ fame, who I last saw playing with Edwyn Collins’ band, and a key player in the late switch of the Wild! Wild! Wild! book launch move to the Boogaloo on Archway Road, Highgate, London N6, where he hosts and DJs the weekly Gospel Brunch show (also a free event).

There’s another project too, she revealed, Last Night in Soho, involving a ‘walking tour of ‘60s Soho which ends up in a bar,’ where Danie and the aforementioned David Woodcock will perform songs from the film of the same name, and other key ‘60s London songs. So is music a full-time venture for Danie now, or is there a day job running alongside?

“Yeah, I’m a dog trainer and a dog behaviour therapist. I’m self-employed, but I’ve been so busy with that I was kind of losing the time to do the music. I’ve been doing this for about eight years now, so it’s about time I started doing something different.

“Despite being involved with music and everything I’ve been involved in since I came to London, I never felt good enough. Even when I used to peacock myself on stage quite a lot with my glam band, The Featherz, I was using this kind of pretence… I just didn’t have the confidence to really take myself seriously. But I think with Slady, it’s kind of been that affair you have with someone to make you feel your self-worth again.”

Do these recent changes mean a rethink regarding Slady?

“Oh no, Slady will come first and foremost!”

Glad to hear that, and just a reminder here that this weekend coming, Danie is set to open the show at the Dublin Castle in Camden, doing a set of acoustic Slade songs as her alter-ego, Gobby Holder, before threatening to use distraction techniques on myself during my Q&A with Tony Bug Bear.

“I’ll sit at the back with a peashooter and keep blowing it whilst you’re trying to get through. I’ll bring my flasher’s mac!”

Ah, hell. Just what I need.

“And then we’ll come on with the full Slady shebang! It’s going to be fun.”

Tickets for Sunday, October 15^th’s replacement Wild! Wild! Wild! A People’s History of Slade event, involving a headline set by Slady’s Gobby Holder and Jem Lea, and a Q&A session with music writer Malcolm Wyatt, are FREE, with more detail via this link, with a chance to buy a hardback copy of the book on the night.

You can also order the book direct from Spenwood Books via this link, or from Amazon, or through your local bookseller, asking about ordering it there. The same goes for the UK library network if you’d prefer to try before you buy.

For more about Slady, including their festive dates in 2023, head here. You can also keep in touch with Gobby and co. via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.