Don Powell

Last updated

Don Powell
Don Powell Book Signing.jpg
Powell signing copies of his biography Look Wot I Dun - My Life in Slade at Liverpool One's Waterstones in 2014
Background information
Birth nameDonald George Powell
Born (1946-09-10) 10 September 1946 (age 77)
Bilston, Staffordshire, England
Genres Glam rock, hard rock
Occupation(s)Drummer
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1960s–present
Website http://www.donpowellofficial.com/

Donald George Powell (born 10 September 1946) is an English musician who was the drummer for glam rock and later hard rock group Slade for over fifty years.

Contents

Early life

As a child, Powell joined the Boy Scouts where he became interested in the drums after being asked to join the band on a Sunday morning parade. After attending Etheridge Secondary Modern School he studied Metallurgy at Wednesbury Technical College. Powell then worked as a metallurgist in a small foundry before turning professional as a drummer. He was athletic and a keen amateur boxer, although an easy going personality. It was he who was sent around with the money collection hat amongst early audiences.

Powell became a member of The Vendors, a band that guitarist Dave Hill later joined. The Vendors became the N'Betweens and bass guitarist / keyboard player / violinist / guitarist Jim Lea joined at an audition. Powell then spotted Noddy Holder playing with Steve Brett & The Mavericks and he and Hill got Holder to join the N'Betweens. They regrouped as Ambrose Slade, changed the name to Slade and the success began.

Songwriting

He co-wrote a number of Slade's earlier songs, mainly with Lea; many of them can be found on the 1970 Slade album Play it Loud . He also co-wrote one of Slade's Top 10 hits "Look Wot You Dun" with Holder and Lea in 1972, and made the breathing noises in the background of the song.

Drum choice

Powell started drumming on a borrowed Olympic kit as a youngster. He moved up to a deep blue Hayman set for his work with Slade until the early 1970s. From there he changed to Ludwig, but in the mid-2000s he switched to Pearl as the original Ludwig firm had changed ownership. Currently he states he likes a four-piece kit with a shallow snare drum.

Accident

On 8 June, 1973, Powell collapsed with heat exhaustion at the end of a show in Birmingham. He spent the night in hospital but was declared fit to play the following morning when discharged. [1]

At 1am on Wednesday, 4 July 1973, when Slade were popular in Europe and number one in the UK Singles Chart with "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me", Don Powell was severely injured in a serious car crash at Compton Road West, Wolverhampton, in which his 20-year-old fiancée, Angela Morris was killed instantly. [2] [3] On a bend in the road, the car hit a hedge and a road sign and then smashed into a wall. Powell fractured his skull, [4] smashed several teeth, broke both of his ankles and five of his ribs. Surgeons had to drill into his skull to ease the internal pressure and he was unconscious for six days but he came round and eventually pulled through, finding the best therapy to be work. Both Powell and Morris had been flung out of the car so it was impossible to tell who had been driving. Powell was unable to attend Morris's cremation six days later on 10 July. [5] [6] [7] He left hospital on 30 July [8] and by mid-August was back recording with the group. When the Top 5 hit "My Friend Stan" was recorded, Powell was walking with the aid of a stick and had to be lifted onto his drum-kit. The accident left Powell with no senses of taste and smell, and he still has severe problems with his short-term memory, whilst his long-term memory has remained unaffected.

Post-Slade career

After Slade split up in February 1992, Powell owned and operated an antique import/export company before he reconvened the band as Slade II later that year with Dave Hill. He remained active with various line-ups. In 1994, the band released the album Keep on Rockin' . The name of the band was shortened back to Slade in 1997. In 2000, Powell had a small cameo role in the BBC TV version of Lorna Doone .

Powell has been married twice and for a number of years lived in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England. In 2004, he moved to Silkeborg, Denmark where he now lives with his Danish wife Hanna.

In December 2005, Powell appeared in the Channel 4 TV documentary Bring Back...The Christmas Number One .

A long-time fan of Ringo Starr, Powell contributed the foreword to the 2016 book Ringo Starr and the Beatles Beat by Alex Cain and Terry McCusker. [9] As the drummer with Colonel Bagshot, McCusker toured with Slade in the 1970s and the two have remained firm friends. [10] [11]

Powell is now one-third of the group Quatro Scott Powell (QSP) alongside Suzi Quatro and Sweet guitarist Andy Scott. Don has played at two of Scott's 'Concert at the Kings' events at All Cannings in Wiltshire, and in 2017 he contributed towards a BBC Radio Wiltshire documentary of the life of former Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt.

In late 2019, Powell's side project, Don Powell's Occasional Flames, featuring Les Glover on lead vocals and guitar, and Paul Cookson's lyrics and poetry, released their first album and single which charted on several download sites, the highest position being 23 on Amazon chart.[ citation needed ]

In February 2020, Powell announced that he had been fired by email by Dave Hill and would be forming Don Powell's Slade to perform Slade songs. [12]

Biography

Powell collaborated with Lise Lyng Falkenberg on his biography since 2006, in part using the notebooks and diaries he kept due to his problems with short term memory following his 1973 accident. [3] The biography, titled Look Wot I Dun – My Life in Slade was released via the publisher Music Sales Ltd in October 2013. It covers in detail Slade's long career and Powell's life, which included booze-ups with Ozzy Osbourne. [13] In 2013, Powell created his own website, and in early 2014 he published his diary entries for 1977 and 1978. [14] [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slade</span> British rock band

Slade are an English rock band formed in Wolverhampton in 1966. They rose to prominence during the glam rock era in the early 1970s, achieving 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. The British Hit Singles & Albums names them the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles. They were the first act to have three singles enter the charts at number one; all six of the band's chart-toppers were penned by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. As of 2006, total UK sales stand at 6,520,171, and their best-selling single, "Merry Xmas Everybody", has sold in excess of one million copies. According to the 1999 BBC documentary It's Slade, the band have sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

Lise Lyng Falkenberg is a Danish writer of mostly fiction, biographies and works of literary studies.

<i>Slayed?</i> 1972 studio album by Slade

Slayed? is the third studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released in November 1972 and reached No. 1 in the UK. It remained on the chart for 34 weeks and was certified Silver in early 1973. The album was also the band's most successful of the 1970s in the US, peaking at No. 69 and remaining in the charts for 26 weeks. In Australia, the album reached No. 1 and went Gold, knocking the band's live album Slade Alive! to No. 2. Slayed? was produced by Chas Chandler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cum On Feel the Noize</span> 1973 single by Slade

"Cum On Feel the Noize" is a song by the English rock band Slade, which was released in 1973 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their fourth number one single, and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. The song was included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest. In a UK poll in 2015 it was voted 15th on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Bak 'Ome</span> 1972 single by Slade

"Take Me Bak 'Ome" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1972 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK, giving the band their second number one single, and remained in the charts for thirteen weeks. The song was certified UK Silver by BPI in 1972. In the United States, the song reached No. 97. The song would be included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest.

"My Baby Left Me" is a rhythm and blues song written by blues singer Arthur Crudup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We'll Bring the House Down (song)</span> 1981 single by Slade

"We'll Bring The House Down" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1981 as the lead single from their ninth studio album We'll Bring the House Down. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Slade. The band's first single to reach the UK Top 40 since 1977, the song peaked at No. 10 in the UK, remaining in the chart for nine weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universe (Slade song)</span> 1991 single by Slade

"Universe" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in December 1991 as the second single from their compilation album Wall of Hits (1991). It was written and produced by bassist Jim Lea. "Universe" reached number 76 in the UK Singles Chart and was the band's last single before disbanding in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look Wot You Dun</span> 1972 single by Slade

"Look Wot You Dun" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1972 as a non-album single. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder, bassist Jim Lea and drummer Don Powell, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 4 in the UK, remaining in the charts for ten weeks. The song would be included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy Roadhog</span> 1977 single by Slade

"Gypsy Roadhog" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1977 as the only single from the band's seventh studio album Whatever Happened to Slade. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 48 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)</span> 1982 single by Slade

"Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1982 as the fourth and final single from their tenth studio album Till Deaf Do Us Part. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Slade. The song was released as a single in Germany only, where it peaked at No. 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock 'n' Roll Bolero</span> 1978 single by Slade

"Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1978 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. The song failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooh La La in L.A.</span> 1987 single by Slade

"Ooh La La in L.A." is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1987 as the third single from their fourteenth studio album, You Boyz Make Big Noize. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wild Winds Are Blowing</span> 1969 single by The Slade

"Wild Winds Are Blowing" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1969 as a non-album single under the name "The Slade". The song was written by Bob Saker and Jack Winsley, and produced by Chas Chandler. It failed to make an appearance in the UK charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Know Who You Are</span> 1970 single by Slade

"Know Who You Are" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1970 as a second and final single from their second studio album Play It Loud. The song was written by Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, Don Powell and Dave Hill, and produced by Chas Chandler. It failed to make an appearance in the UK chart.

<i>Get Yer Boots On: The Best of Slade</i> 2004 compilation album by Slade

Get Yer Boots On: The Best of Slade is a compilation album by the British rock band Slade, released in America only by Shout! Factory in March 2004. It was the first Slade compilation to be released in America since 1973's Sladest and was followed by the Shout! Factory compilation In for a Penny: Raves & Faves in 2007. The compilation features sixteen tracks, covering the band's commercial heyday from 1971–75, and their American commercial breakthrough in 1984 with "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My".

<i>Keep On Rockin</i> (Slade II album) 1994 studio album by Slade II

Keep on Rockin! is the only studio album by Slade II. The album was released in 1994 and has seen various re-issues and guises under alternative names such as Wild Nites (1999), Cum on Let's Party! (2002) and Superyob (2003).

Barn Records was a record label established by the English musician, record producer and manager Chas Chandler. It was active from 1976 to 1980, and included the production company Barn Productions and publishing company Barn Publishing Ltd. The label was based at Portland Studios in London, which was formerly known as IBC Studios until Chandler purchased them in 1978.

Cheapskate Records was a record label established by Slade bassist Jim Lea and his brother Frank Lea in 1979. It was active until 1982, however was later briefly revived for the release of three Slade singles in 1987–88. Aside from Slade, some of the artists on the label were The Dummies, The Ska-Dows, Sue Wilkinson, Roy Wood, Tich Turner's Escalator, Malcolm Roberts, Top Secret and The Glitter Band.

References

  1. ↑ Reading Evening Post - Saturday 9 Jun 1973 - Page 10.
  2. ↑ "Slade Scrapbook - 1974 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 Bradley, Steve (16 March 2010). "Slade drummer Don Powell prepares to publish his biography". Birmingham Mail . Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Gibb, Bill. "Slade-mania is back... and everybody's having fun: Drummer Don Powell looks ahead to Glasgow show". Sundaypost.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Genealogy Research Service".
  6. ↑ Webb, Julie (4 August 1973). "Road to recovery". New Musical Express . pp. 8–9.
  7. ↑ "Gary James' Interview with Don Powell of Slade". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  8. ↑ Daily Mirror - 31 July 1973
  9. ↑ "Don Powell: Slade drummer visits The Beatles Story". www.beatlesstory.com. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Copp, Michele. "Review: RINGO STARR AND THE BEATLES BEAT" . Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Interviews". Don Powell Official Website. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  12. ↑ Ben Beaumont-Thomas. "Slade drummer Don Powell 'fired by email' after 57-year partnership". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  13. ↑ 'Look Wot I Dun: Don Powell of Slade' by Don Powell & Lise Lyng Falkenberg. ASIN   1783050403.
  14. ↑ "News Page". Don Powell Official Website. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "Don's 1977 Diary". Don Powell Official Website. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "Don's 1978 Diary". Don Powell Official Website. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.