DEFIANTS OF THE DARKNESS: Slade’s Revolutionary Quest for Rock ‘N’ Roll Filmmaking Supremacy
Darling! Let’s get this glam rock party started!
It’s the 1970s, and eight-year-old Daryl Easlea is beyond thrilled to catch his favorite rock band, Slade, on the big screen. But, boy, was he in for a surprise! Instead of the usual fun-loving antics, “Slade in Flame” offers a bleak, gritty portrayal of the music industry’s underbelly. Enter writer Andrew Birkin, who’s just returned from a stint interviewing Albert Speer, Adolf Hitler’s architect, and it shows – in more ways than one. His artsy, dark view of life seeps into the film, making it a far cry from the sun-kissed, cheeky vibes of the band’s music.
This 1975 release, reprised in cinemas from May 2nd, follows Flame, a fictional band formed from warring clubland acts, as they rise to fame and realize their lack of agency. It’s a cautionary tale of being chewed up and spat out by the industry’s ruthless clutches. The film’s dark tone and true-to-life portrayal of bands’ offstage antics, including a memorable scene at a pirate radio station, resonates today. But, baby, it was a commercial flop, tanking Slade’s career alongside it.
So, what went wrong? Well, the band didn’t want to be A Hard Day’s Night; they yearned to show the gritty side of the music business. Chas Chandler, their manager, envisioned a film à la the Beatles, but the lads had other plans. Andrew Birkin, director Richard Loncraine, and the band worked tirelessly to create a cinematic experience, but it didn’t quite connect with young fans.
“I don’t remember anyone saying we should have made a film for 12-year-olds,” Richard Loncraine chuckles. Ah, hindsight is 20/20, darling! But here’s the thing – 50 years on, “Slade in Flame” is regarded as a high point in their career, and yes, it’s a landmark. Mark Kermode might’ve exaggerated when he called it the “Citizen Kane of rock movies,” but even Slade’s drummer, Don Powell, is proud of their legacy. And, sweetie, it’s not the career killer some suggested; in fact, it’s maybe the album’s somber tone – a million miles from their earlier hits – that did more damage.
Easlea, Slade’s biographer, now views “Slade in Flame” as a relevant, even prophetic, look at the music industry’s ruthless operating style. And, darling, it’s true: in today’s setting, this film would still hold a mirror to the industry’s hideousness. Even Easlea notes that the band’s extended 1974-76 US tour, neglected by their domestic audience, might’ve done more harm to their career.
There’s so much more to “Slade in Flame” than its initial commercial failure. A testament to the band’s willingness to take risks, to their manager’s faith in a different kind of film, and to the writing duo’s unflinching portrayal of reality. Powell, still a sweet man, emerges as a standout, given his own struggles with memory loss after a 1973 car accident.
So, grab your popcorn, darlings, and get ready to immerse yourself in this glam rock epic. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but one that will leave you holding on tight until the very end.
Original Story https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/14/citizen-kane-rock-movies-glam-rockers-slade-in-flame
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