Noddy Holder Vocalist and guitarist of the group . Date of Birth: 15.06.1946 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Noddy Holder

Neville John Holder, better known as Noddy Holder, was born on June 15, 1946, in Walsall, England. His parents were club musicians who performed mainly in pubs. Holder had a natural talent for music from a young age and could easily replicate any melody he heard. Even before attending school, he would put on shows with his neighborhood friends, pretending to sing into a makeshift microphone.

At the age of twelve, Holder's father bought him an acoustic guitar. Within a year, he formed a band with his school friends and decided to pursue music seriously. To afford a new electric guitar and amplifier, Holder worked as a car parts salesman. With his new equipment, he fully immersed himself in the world of rock and roll, which was gaining popularity in England at the time.

In 1965, Holder was invited to join Steve Brett's band as a session guitarist and backing vocalist. After leaving the band, he tried his hand at being a tour manager for the group "Listen," where he met musician James Lea. Lea later introduced Holder to the band "N'Betweens" from Wolverhampton, where he was offered the position of bass guitarist and lead vocalist.

The band, later known as Slade, went through several lineup changes before settling as a quartet with Holder, Lea, guitarist Dave Hill, and drummer Don Powell. They recorded their first demo in 1964 and released their first single in France in 1965. In 1966, they solidified their lineup and began their journey to fame.

In November of that year, Holder's powerful and distinctive voice led the band to choose him as the lead vocalist over Robert Plant, who would later become the singer for Led Zeppelin. The band, now called Slade, released their first single under Columbia Records in 1969.

Slade's concert performances primarily consisted of cover songs by popular artists of the time. However, they decided to try their luck in London's recording studios and caught the attention of Chas Chandler, former bassist for The Animals and producer for Jimi Hendrix. Chandler signed them under the condition that they change their name to "Ambrose Slade."

With their new image and sound, Slade rose to fame in the early 1970s as a glam rock band. Holder's distinctive top hat, sideburns, and energetic stage presence became iconic. The band had a string of chart-topping hits, with Holder and Lea writing most of their songs. Their success continued into the 1980s, but eventually, the band went on a hiatus in 1987.

During the hiatus, Slade's music was reissued and the band members pursued other projects. Holder and Lea formed a new wave band called "The Dummies" in 1980, but legal issues arose due to their contractual obligations to Barn Records. Eventually, Holder returned as the lead vocalist of Slade.

In 1992, Holder announced his departure from Slade, and shortly after, Lea also left the band. Both musicians continue to enjoy the royalties from their songs, which have remained popular over the years. Holder is now a popular radio DJ in England, hosts television programs, and has written his autobiography titled "Who's Crazee Now?!"

Currently, Noddy Holder resides in a picturesque village in Cheshire, England, where he spends time with his children. He enjoys cooking and occasionally contemplates returning to the stage and reforming Slade.