On This Day 28/09/1971 Slade

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On this day, 28 September 1971, Black Country rockers Slade played Cardiff University.

Slade had worked endlessly during 1970 without finding the elusive hit record that manager Chas Chandler was convinced they had in them. One of their most popular live tracks they were performing at the time was what they believed to be an old Little Richard record entitled 'Get Down & get With It'.

In an effort to capture the very essence of the band it was chosen as their next single and released in May with little fanfare or trumpeting from Polydor. Despite that the track slowly began to rise up the pop charts until finally on August 1st Slade had their first ever top 20 hit in the bag.

The single became a pan European hit which kept the band occupied there at various stages throughout the year appearing on various TV shows plugging their new hit record. Peaking at number 16 in the official UK chart 'Get Down With It' as it is correctly titled gave them mass exposure across the country on the new fangled colour telly box's which were now becoming commonplace.

Gone were the Skinhead haircuts and accompanying paraphernalia. Instead Slade were openly embracing colour TV broadcasts and making sure that they were colourful and loud, very loud as they joyfully marched into the fabric of the nation.

In October the band recorded the shows which were to be edited down into a single LP for future release as 'Slade Alive'

The highlight of their year came in November when 'Coz I Luv You' reached the top of the national singles charts to give the band their first number 1 record.

On This Day 03/12/1972 Suzi Quatro

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On this day, 3 December 1972, American rocker Suzi Quatro played Cardiff’s Top Rank alongside Slade and Thin Lizzy.

Quatro had moved to England in 1971, after being spotted by the record producer Mickie Most, who had by that time founded his own label, Rak Records. Most had been persuaded to see Quatro’s band Cradle by her brother Michael, who was managing the band.

Like other music producers at the time, Most was looking for a female rock singer who could fill the void created by the death of Janis Joplin. According to the Encyclopedia of Popular Music, his attention to Quatro was drawn by "her comeliness and skills as bass guitarist, singer and chief show-off in Cradle."

Quatro's first single, "Rolling Stone", was successful only in Portugal, where it reached No. 1 on the charts. This was a solo effort, although aided by people such as Duncan Browne, Peter Frampton and Alan White. Subsequently, with the approval of Most, she auditioned for a band to accompany her. It was also after this record that Most introduced her to the songwriting and production team of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who wrote songs specifically to accord with her image.

In 1972, Quatro embarked as a support act on a UK tour with Thin Lizzy and headliners Slade. Rak Records arranged for her to use Thin Lizzy's newly acquired PA system during this, incurring a charge of £300 per week that enabled the Irish band to effectively purchase it at no cost to themselves.

In May 1973, her second single "Can the Can" (1973) was a No. 1 hit in parts of Europe and in Australia.

On this day 28/09/1971 Slade

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 28 September 1971, Black Country rockers Slade played Cardiff University.

Slade had worked endlessly during 1970 without finding the elusive hit record that manager Chas Chandler was convinced they had in them. One of their most popular live tracks they were performing at the time was what they believed to be an old Little Richard record entitled 'Get Down & get With It'.

In an effort to capture the very essence of the band it was chosen as their next single and released in May with little fanfare or trumpeting from Polydor. Despite that the track slowly began to rise up the pop charts until finally on August 1st Slade had their first ever top 20 hit in the bag.

The single became a pan European hit which kept the band occupied there at various stages throughout the year appearing on various TV shows plugging their new hit record. Peaking at number 16 in the official UK chart 'Get Down With It' as it is correctly titled gave them mass exposure across the country on the new fangled colour telly box's which were now becoming commonplace. Gone were the Skinhead haircuts and accompanying paraphernalia. Instead Slade were openly embracing colour TV broadcasts and making sure that they were colourful and loud, very loud as they joyfully marched into the fabric of the nation

In October the band recorded the shows which were to be edited down into a single LP for future release as 'Slade Alive'

The highlight of their year came in November when 'Coz I Luv You' reached the top of the national singles charts to give the band their first number 1 record.