Slade is one of the biggest bands to have emerged from the U.K.’s 1970’s pre-punk era. With their stomping rhythms and earworm, sing-a-long melodies, the iconic glam rockers racked up a string of hits that’s still inspiring generations of rock ‘n’ rollers, including one of the holidays best known songs, perennial radio favorite, “Merry X-Mas Everybody.”
As such, it’s only natural that tribute acts have emerged over the years, but there’s nothing quite like Slady, a high energy all-female quartet featuring Gobby Holder (Danie Cox): Lead vocals and guitar, Jem Lea (Wendy Solomon): Bass and backing vocals, Davina Hill (Dill Tasker): Lead guitar and backing vocals, and Donna Powell (Jessica Dann): Drums, who make their Casbah debut on March 12. Gallagher brotheres sonic doppelgangers, Oasiz, open the night.
What inspired the creation of Slady? “I’m a big glam rock fan,” said Cox. “Especially Slade and there was an audition for a new singer for Dave Hill’s Slade and I actually applied and got nowhere!,” she recalled good naturedly. “Forwards a few years later, whilst I was fronting my own Glam/Punk band at the time called The Featherz, I saw Dave Hill’s Slade play live just outside of London and I just thought, ‘I could do this! Better still, I’ll make it all Female and call it SLADY!’ I messaged my friend Wendy who was a bassist and asked her if she wanted to do bass and it just happened like that! We’re the co-founders.”
Does the band perform the songs like the records or do you add your own arrangements? “We aren’t a color by numbers Slade Tribute,” Cox noted. “We’re more like Slade reborn. Slade with tits. Slade in a different universe. Although our energy is very much definitely the same.”
Which songs are the biggest crowd pleasers? “Everyone’s favorite is “Coz I Luv You,” sometimes we can’t hear ourselves on stage coz people are screaming it so loudly! Another one people go nutso for is “Merry Xmas Everybody,” but we only ever play that during October-December.” There is an exception to that rule. “Unless we play a birthday party and we change the lyrics to ‘So here it is, Happy Birthday, everybody’s having fun! Look to the future now, you’ll soon be sixty oneeee.” What’s her own biggest fave in the set? “It’s probably “Rock ‘n’ Roll Preacher,” or even “Skweeze Me Pleeze Me,” where we changed the lyrics to ‘When a girl’s meaning yes she say’s yes’ mainly get good responses to that although you do get the odd bloke who calls being feminist, a woke snowflake or whatever. I’d rather be a woke snowflake than be an a***hole.”
How did this tour come about? “I’ve always wanted to come to California,” Cox said. “I don’t think I would even play guitar if it wasn’t for Green Day for example.” A local connection got the ball rolling. “It wasn’t until San Diego super Slade fan Scott Samuels got in touch with us and told us about his Oasis tribute band, Oasiz, which we both thought, Slade and Oasis being so niche in America, why not do a little tour of it. And Scott’s been nothing short of a legend taking care of us all and organizing this whole thing. Proper bucket list stuff. Life changing stuff. We’re very excited!”
The response from Slade fans to Slady has been great so far, with bigger shows, recording and touring ahead. “Honestly, we’ve been so lucky to receive nothing but amazing feedback from everyone! We do get some negative stuff but it’s usually jealous women types or men of a certain age. And they are quite funny!” What’s Cox looking forward to the most on their debut U.S. tour? “Playing the legendary Casbah!,” she said. “And possibly making a habit of coming over more often.”
Slady has just released a mini album, Coz I Luv You, available on all platforms. Meanwhile, CDs can be bought from www.wienerworld.com. Special signed copies are also available at www.sladyworld.com
