BEGINNINGS ~ 1963
THE VENDORS
The journey starts way back in the summer months of 1960 as the earliest verified strand of information regarding those who were to become Slade is known. In Bilston deep in the heart of the Black Country, young Donald George Powell, a 14 year old aspiring drummer with big ideas was inducted into a local band 'The Vendors' by vocalist Johnny Howells and guitarist Mick Marson. Playing covers of contemporary hits they managed to get occasional gigs at youth clubs, social clubs and parties.
Not much is known from those early years and we have to move the story on to 1963 where we have proper verified dates that Powells band played. There were the usual comings and goings of personnel as the band evolved and took shape with the addition of various other musicians along the way culminating with Dave Hill joining Don Powell late in 1963 a more stable line up had been established with Howells, Marson and bass player Billy Diffey making the Vendors a quintet ready to take on the world.
Well maybe not the world, but certainly their world, which was to grow larger as they gigged when and wherever they could gaining invaluable experience that was to stand them in good stead in the years to come.
Meanwhile.....
With two of the Slade's finding each other late in 1963, a third future member, Noddy Holder, is already an established performer having formed a beat combo with school chums from the T.P Riley Secondary Modern School. Playing standard rock n' roll covers of the day, Holder, along with Phil Burnell, Pete Bickley, Mike Alton and John Cooper had been together since 1962, gaining experience playing in church halls and youth clubs as 'The Phantoms' or 'The Rockin' Phantoms' later in 1963. It was to be a while yet before Holder, Hill & Powell would meet, but here are the fully verified dates known to exist of both the Vendors and The Phantoms gigs from 1963.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
27/1 |
All Saints Church, Bloxwich |
|
10/2 |
Liberal Club, Birchills | |
14/2 |
Public Baths, Pinfold, Bloxwich | Wilf Haywood and his Music |
MARCH
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
2/3 |
Shaws |
|
4/3 |
Hadley Estate |
|
6/3 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
9/3 |
White Rose |
|
13/3 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
17/3 |
Royal George |
|
21/3 |
St Giles YC, Willenhall |
|
22/3 |
Albrighton |
|
23/3 |
Bourne YC, Moxley |
|
24/3 |
British Legion, Princes End |
|
26/3 |
Stonefield School |
|
30/3 |
Bourne YC, Moxley |
|
31/3 |
Yew Tree |
|
31/3 |
Royal George |
|
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
3/3 |
All Saints Church, Bloxwich |
|
9/3 |
Rising Brooke School, Stafford |
|
14/3 |
Hazelslade YC, Cannock |
|
23/3 |
North Walsall WMC, Essex St, Walsall |
|
24/3 |
Bloxwich Lock, Bloxwich |
|
27/3 |
W.R.Wheway School, Walsall |
|
28/3 |
T.P.Riley School, Bloxwich |
|
31/3 |
Liberal Club, Birchill, Walsall |
|
APRIL / MAY
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
2/4 |
Horse and Jockey |
|
3/4 |
British Legion,Princes End |
|
7/4 |
Royal George |
Johnny Shane Leaves |
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
13/4 |
North Walsall WMC, Essex St ,Walsall |
|
20/4 |
North Walsall WMC, Essex St ,Walsall |
|
20/4 |
St Peters YC, Wolverhampton |
The Sundowners |
24/4 |
Forum Ballroom, Pensnett |
Astonaires/ Belmonts/ Phantoms |
10/5 |
Beechdale Hall, Bloxwich |
JUNE / JULY / AUGUST
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
14/6 |
Chorley Institute |
As Johnny Travelle & the Vendors |
22/6 |
Bourne Methodist Church,Moxley |
|
6/7 |
Gaumont Cinema,Wolverhampton |
With Derek Broomhill |
26/7 |
Chorley Institute |
As Johnny Travelle & the Vendors |
18/8 |
Victory Inn |
Johnny Shane rejoins band |
30/8 |
Lost City,Ocker Hill |
|
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
7/6 |
Methodist YC, Bloxwich |
|
8/6 |
Hay Mills Memorial Hall, Birmingham |
|
9/6 |
Coach & Horses, Wednesbury |
|
9/6 |
Digbeth Mutual Club, Walsall |
|
14/6 |
Beacon YC, New Invention |
|
18/6 |
Croft St WMC,Walsall |
|
30/6 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
7/7 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
14/7 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
15/7 |
T.P.Riley School,Bloxwich |
|
30/7 |
The Cock Inn, Bilston |
Van Max (compere) |
2/8 |
The Cock Inn, Bilston |
Van Max (compere) |
6/8 |
The Cock Inn, Bilston |
Van Max (compere) |
9/8 |
The Cock Inn, Bilston |
Van Max (compere) |
13/8 |
The Cock Inn, Bilston |
Van Max (compere) |
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
1/9 |
Bushbury Arms, Wolverhampton |
|
6/9 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
7/9 |
Victory Inn |
|
13/9 |
Bushbury Arms, Wolverhampton |
|
14/9 |
Town Hall, Bilston (Support Act) |
Danny Cannon & the Ramrods |
15/9 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
17/9 |
Trafalgar Inn |
|
19/9 |
Brierley Hill YC |
|
20/9 |
Bushbury Arms, Wolverhampton |
|
21/9 |
Victory Inn |
|
22/9 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
26/9 |
St Giles YC, Willenhall |
|
27/9 |
Bushbury Arms, Wolverhampton |
|
29/9 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
2/10 |
Victory Inn, New Invention |
|
4/10 |
Bushbury Arms, Wolverhampton |
|
5/10 |
Victory Inn, New Invention |
|
6/10 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
9/10 |
Victory Inn, New Invention |
|
11/10 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
18/10 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
19/10 |
Bourne Y C .Moxley |
|
24/10 |
Willenhall Baths |
|
25/10 |
Lost City, Ocker Hill |
|
26/10 |
Sankeys |
|
31/10 |
St Giles Y C, Willenhall |
|
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
8/9 |
Three Men in a Boat,Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
21/9 |
Castle Hall,Bridgenorth |
|
23/9 |
Primrose Ballroom, Walsall |
|
23/9 |
Trafalgar Inn |
|
28/9 |
Civic Hall, Brierley Hill (3rd billing) |
Nicky James/The Senators |
29/9 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
6/10 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
13/10 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
20/10 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
21/10 |
Ashmore Inn, Wednesbury |
Van Max |
27/10 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
1/11 |
Lichfield |
|
2/11 |
Gough Arms, West Bromwich |
|
3/11 |
Gough Arms, West Bromwich |
|
12/11 |
Forum, Bradley |
|
13/11 |
Temple St YC, Wolverhampton |
|
14/11 |
St Giles YC, Willenhall |
|
16/11 |
Bourne YC, Moxley |
|
22/11 |
Etheridge YC, Etheridge |
|
24/11 |
Digbeth YC, Walsall |
|
25/11 |
Little Swan |
|
30/11 |
Bourne YC, Moxley |
|
4/12 |
Co Op, Walsall |
|
6/12 |
Claregate Boys Club |
|
14/12 |
Town Hall, Bilston |
|
20/12 |
Etheridge YC, Etheridge |
|
21/12 |
Claregate Boys Club |
|
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
3/11 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
4/11 |
Ashmore Inn, Wednesfield |
Van Max -The Phantoms |
10/11 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
17/11 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
18/11 |
Ashmore Inn, Wednesfield |
Van Max -The Phantoms |
22/11 |
Beacon YC, New Invention |
|
24/11 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
1/12 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
7/12 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
8/12 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
22/12 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
23/12 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |
24/12 |
North Walsall WMC, Essex St, Walsall |
|
29/12 |
Three Men in a Boat, Beechdale |
Lunchtime Gig |