SLADE IN FLAME

At what may have been the very height of Slade’s immensely successful career, a decision was taken that Slade should make a feature film. They’d done everything else a few times over. Sell-out tours around the world. Hit records everywhere, number one records, then records that went straight in at the number one spot. That feat hadn’t been done since the heyday of The Beatles and wouldn’t be done again until The Jam got a sympathy vote for announcing their impending split in the early 1980’s.

Slade had rejected a couple of inferior ideas and scripts. They were either rather silly (they had no intention of doing a corny ‘Let’s play the show right here!’ type film) or simply not well-written enough. They solved the problem by taking key members of their production and writing team to America with them, so they saw the rather unglamorous reality of the working rock musician’s existence for themselves, as Slade toured the States. The members of Slade filled up the notebooks of the team with details of every unsavoury and violent act that they could think of that had befallen other musicians. They were quite blessed, in this respect, by comparison themselves, as Chas Chandler had from day one looked after them with a fiercely loyal, honest, paternal attitude, which extended to the group ending up in the almost unique position of owning their own music and publishing outright in later years.

Once the group had accepted and approved the far more suitable re-written screenplay, they slotted filming in the narrow gaps between recording, live dates. Live footage was filmed in front of invited fan club members at special shows in London. They went to Sheffield and Nottingham to film street and club scenes.

The central story of Flame is quite well known by now: Rival groups encounter each other on the road, do various bits of mischief to each other and some of the members end up pairing up in one band later on. They struggled away in the clubs with no great hope of making it, because that is what people in groups – the thousands of weekend warriors - have always done. That new band is seen by a talent scout (Devlin), signed up by an investor / entrepreneur (Seymour) and put in the studio and on the road. They become successful, thanks to the help of a number of publicity stunts and their own talent, but start to founder under the pressure. Their old management have them under contract and try to claim a large slice of the pie. Their new management manage to get their contract stolen and the agent retaliates quickly, using some threats and extremely shocking violence. It all becomes too hot to handle for the entrepreneur, after he is door-stepped at his offices and he is about to hand the group over, when they crack under the pressure of work and egos, leaving nothing for Harding to reclaim.

The group were portrayed in the film pretty much as what they were in real life. None of them had acted previously, so the end result was quite surprising.

Noddy Holder was maybe the most accomplished actor in the group, appearing as singer - guitarist Stoker, he was an affable, outgoing and talented performer, a bit world-weary and nobody’s fool. Slightly cynical, maybe realistic and far from trusting of the big break that the fictional group were offered in the film.

Don Powell, recovering from a major set of injuries and struggling awfully with his memory, among other infirmities, was given the most difficult scene in the film, heavy on dialogue and the result, filmed in one take, was a credit to his acting talents. He portrayed drummer Charlie, who bounced along through the film, good-naturedly, just doing his job. He got a number of excellent punchlines through the film and delivered them very naturally and believably.

Bass guitarist Paul was played by Jim Lea and the part was apparently method-acted by the exhausted bassist who couldn’t cope with the strenuous early mornings that filming demanded, leaving him annoyed and fractious, like his character. He came across as an even deeper cynic than Stoker, hating being uprooted from his home, struggling with the pressures of the band and the one who the pressures got to the most.

Dave Hill apparently played Dave Hill in the film. A delightfully played study of a self-absorbed, preening show-off who didn’t think too deeply about anything much, being too busy enjoying the ride….. and the girls. He’s also given a lot of the laugh lines in the film and he delivers them really well.

The group did have some fine actors apperaing with them.:

Johnny Shannon injected the correct degree of menace and brutality into his role as their booking agent, Ron Harding. His portrayal is an utter delight to watch. Surrounded by his thugs and slot machines, he’s a small-time hustler, with his eye on the big time and when a chance to snatch it comes along, he pursues it absolutely viciously.

Tom Conti, who played entrepreneur Robert Seymour, had a track record in television roles and had the correct manner of grace and polish to play the genteel Svengali who would sweep them towards stardom. Conti’s acting is absolutely central to the film. It is interesting to note that the billing starred Conti and featured the group. In recent years, that has been reversed.

Kenneth Colley played Tony Devlin, an almost ghostly figure who appears like magic whenever required to act as Seymour’s fixer and right-hand man. He is bland and invisible enough until needed to step forward become forceful and assertive and his deeds and actions keep the plot moving.

Alan Lake played the singer with the group Jack Daniels and The DT’s. One of those hackneyed and pitiful old club singers that you found trotting out corny old songs from yesteryear at weddings and funerals and in the grimy clubs that form a landscape to the film’s central plot. Cast aside by the group, he ends up in the centre of the intrigue concerning the group’s old contract.

The film was anything but a jolly romp and showed a side of the music industry that at the time was perfectly hidden – and for very good reason. As has been said by Noddy Holder, the situation was common where someone signed a band on behalf of a company, not caring about them or having any interest in what they did, just seeing them merely as a marketable commodity to be sold on. It happened then and it still happens now. Music was and is corporate big business. It has become ever more manufactured and sound-alike in recent years and the company moguls decide what the listener hears (and buys) these days. The crooked elements have always been there, resorting to violence and hanging people out of the windows of tall buildings by their ankles to force the capitulation and obedience of the acts concerned and to scare off rival managers. But all of that remains deeply buried.
The film hit the cinemas and those fans who had not read the paperback book issued by Panther first must have thought it was some sort of documentary. Kids back then believed what they saw and when they saw various members of Slade at each other’s throats and all the associated conflict, they assumed Slade were on their way out.

Various music business insiders applauded the film, but saw the expose of the seedy side of the music biz as a great mistake.

The film did the rounds at cinemas, aided by a lot of personal appearances by the band during the premiere season.

The soundtrack album had sold very well and was full of glorious music – the standout track being Far Far Away, which was issued as a single. It reached number two on the UK singles chart.

The second single from the album was How Does It Feel. Based around a Jim Lea melody composed many years earlier, it was not that similar to earlier Slade recordings. Part ballad, part orchestrated, and very long. It was possibly too advanced for the kids. The song is now recognized as one of Slade’s very best, but at the time, it only reached number fifteen on the UK chart. The albums sales had obviously eaten into the potential single sales.

Slade had blown some of their fans minds. On their farewell UK tour in 1975, Noddy Holder took time out between songs to assure fans at every show that the band had not fallen apart.

When it came to handling Slade’s career, Chas Chandler didn’t hang around at that time. Slade moved on quickly to the next thing, their new single, Thanks For The Memory and an American assault which would last for just over a year. America got the film, but didn’t really get it. Noddy Holder said it had to be subtitled because of their accents. As creditable as it was, it still didn’t really stand a chance over there.

Slade’s career moved on and so did a lot of their fans while the group were away. They experienced something of a down period upon their return from America and struggled for a few years to regain any acceptance or success in the UK. The press were enjoying being hostile to the band and it was only a last minute invitation to fill a vacated slot at the 1980 Reading Festival that stopped the group from disappearing completely.

Flame was issued on VHS videotape by 3M and later by Hendring in the UK.

Over the years, the group stood by the film, stating they had wanted to make a lasting, serious movie, with some value, that would stand the test of time. Dave Hill stood out as the one who never thought that the movie was a great idea because of the overly serious plot line. It certainly confused some of their fans.

In the USA in March 2004, Shout Factory Records released the Flame DVD in packaging faithful to the original VHS design.

When Salvo Records and Union Square Music reissued the Slade back catalogue starting in 2006, Flame had a pair of DVD reissues, with a degree of further restoration involved on the second issue. The two different DVD’s had some extras included – the first had a good, long 2002 interview with Noddy Holder speaking to Gary Crowley and the second had some interviews with the group and some of the people central to the making of the film. A neat double-pack CD / DVD issue gave excellent value for money, but the pressings soon sold out and the DVDs rose in value on the collectors market over the following years.

BBC film critic Mark Kermode stated in 2007 that the film was ‘the Citizen Kane of rock musicals’ and everyone concerned has leapt upon that quote ever since.

Slade historians and authors Chris Selby and Ian Edmundson had spent a lot of time putting together SLADE IN FLAME AT 50 – a book which is an incredibly complete forensic study of all the many aspects of the Flame era of Slade’s career – the music, the film, the memorabilia, the press, the people, the film’s impact and legacy. This was issued via Amazon and some other stockists - to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the release of the Flame soundtrack album. It was arguably, in a very small way, a catalyst for some of the activities that have followed, as it was quite apparent that their record company were doing nothing at all for the anniversary and the BFI plans were then very much under wraps while work on the restoration was conducted.

After years of silence and fan pleas in vain for a Blu Ray reissue, it was announced that the film had been fully restored from the best available 35mm footage. It was scheduled for release, with a Blu Ray and DVD in the new box set on May 19th 2025.

The release was launched with a premiere event on May 1st 2025, attended by Holder, Hill and Powell and a good number of special cinema screenings followed, all around the UK over the next couple of months.

The special features on the Blu-ray/DVD are:
• Newly remastered by the BFI and presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentary with director Richard Loncraine and film critic Mark Kermode
• Make Way For Noddy (2025, 9 mins): actor Tom Conti discusses the making of Slade in Flame
• Noddy Holder Interview (2002, 54 mins): Noddy speaks to broadcaster Gary Crowley in the uncut, full-length version of an interview that later featured in The Making of Slade in Flame
• The Making of Slade in Flame (2007, 58 mins): recorded for the film's original DVD release and featuring interviews with all four members of Slade, director Richard Loncraine and actor Tom Conti, this documentary tells the story of Slade in Flame from its inception to its London premiere.
• This Week: Men's Fashions (1973, 10 mins): meet Tommy Nutter, the rebel tailor of Savile Row, as flamboyant fashions get thoroughly road-tested in this glam 1970s fashion short
• Original theatrical trailer (1975)
• Trailer (2025)
• Slade in Frame – a collection of promotional images from the film’s original release…..

A review of the Blu Ray disc contents.

The Blu Ray opens with a nicely clear menu, alongside a classic image of the band, also used for the BFI package’s cover.

SLADE IN FLAME:
The movie itself is now absolutely pristine and the sound seems very much improved from previous editions. I don’t need to type out yet another long description of what is well known to be a marvellous rock music film. It hangs together beautifully after all of these years. The acting rings just as true as it ever did and the group all perform their parts really convincingly all through the film. The rapid pace of the film has always been a plus. There’s not a wasted scene, or a superfluous line of dialogue in the whole thing. Tom Conti is a delight, as is Johnny Shannon.

THE AUDIO COMMENTARY:
Once you’ve watched the film, there’s the option to go through it again with an audio commentary replacing the regular soundtrack. This consists of Mark Kermode talking to Richard Loncraine about the various scenes. It’s fascinating how much information he drops in as an aside. How the film came together. How people were cast in their roles. Loncraine describes the incident where Alan Lake had a bad first day on the film set and nearly lost his job, due to an altercation with a club licensee. As we know, his wife Diana Dors sorted the situation out. Kermode’s huge enthusiasm for the film has never ever waned and he asks Richard Loncraine everything he ever wanted to know about the film.

MAKE WAY FOR NODDY:
Tom Conti speaks about his experiences filming with Slade and it’s a new interview that we haven’t seen before. He’s wonderful to interview and an absolute mine of information.

NODDY HOLDER INTERVIEW FROM 2002:
The complete interview between Noddy Holder and Gary Crowley is a most welcome feature on this disc. Noddy answers questions thoughtfully, honestly and engagingly throughout and it’s a pleasure to watch.

THE MAKING OF SLADE IN FLAME:
The cast and crew of the film speak about their experiences in this bonus feature from the 2007 DVD. Again, this is a very welcome addition to the disc. We get anecdotes and thoughts from most of the key people involved in the film.

THIS WEEK: MEN’S FASHIONS:
A 1973 television show piece about the London fashion scene. We meet famous fashionista Tommy Nutter, dressed in a suit that, even in black and white, gives the viewer a headache. There are penny round collars, people dancing on the top of a moving van, going down a London street, stack heels, flared trousers, the type of clothing material we haven’t seen for years. A lovely piece of nostalgia.

SLADE IN FRAME:
A short sequence of excellent still images from Slade’s illustrious career.

1974 SLADE IN FLAME CINEMA TRAILER:
This short piece has been restored nicely and would have been used to entice cinema viewers to go along to the flicks during the next week or two to see Flame. It doesn’t reveal the plot, but contains some very quick key snippets, chosen to make the viewer as keen as possible on that next trip out.

SLADE IN FLAME 2025 PROMOTIONAL TRAILER:
Similar to the original trailer, this has key snippets from the film and the editing is noticeably sharper than the original. You’re hit by seconds from the film that really make an impact.

Flame was a hit album that caught Slade at a high point in their career, saw them stretching out musically more than they ever had before and best of all, it was accompanied by this utterly tremendous movie and the Panther paperback by John Pidgeon.

It’s a pivotal part of Slade’s history, where they made a career-defining movie, a superb album and left something that – fifty whole years later – remains so enjoyable and  inspirational to so many.

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SLADE IN FLAME AT 50
A perfect companion book to the forthcoming re-release. Buy it here.

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