Читать книгу Mad, Bad and Dangerous - The Book of Drummers' Tales - Spike Webb - Страница 10

Don Powell is the man wielding the sticks on the most widely played Christmas pop record ever, having been the drummer with Slade since they formed in the 1960s as The N’Betweens, before changing their name to Ambrose Slade. Initially a skinhead group, they encouraged their fans to stomp their Dr Martens boots to the music. They soon shortened their name, grew their hair and changed their image to avoid being associated with football hooligans, instead becoming notorious icons of ’70s glam rock. They are still touring today. This particular incident occurred back in the ’90s.

Imagine. You are a young, starry-eyed kid of 10 or 11 years old. You love pop music and because it’s the 20th century, so do your parents. Their favourite band is the ’70s glam heroes, Slade. You’re really into them, too. In fact, you’ve got loads of posters of them on your bedroom wall: Noddy Holder and all the rest of the band. Your favourite poster is one of Slade’s drummer, Don Powell. That’s because your ambition is to be a famous drummer one day. Sometimes, as you look at your second-hand drum kit stacked up in the corner of the room, you wonder what it would be like to be Don Powell of Slade: travelling the world, being on all those hit records, having any drum kit you want with loads of cymbals.

Then, one early evening as you are daydreaming about the glamour of a rock’n’roll lifestyle, you hear a knock on the front door. You hear your mum open the door and there follows a conversation that you can’t quite make out, but you can hear whoops and gasps of delighted surprise. You think perhaps your Aunt Helga has paid a surprise visit and you’ll have to forget about Slade and rock stardom and go downstairs and be polite.

Instead though, your mum comes upstairs and, poking her head round the bedroom door, says: ‘You’d better come downstairs for a minute – there’s someone to see you!’

‘Who?’

‘Don Powell.’

‘Don Powell?’

‘Yes, Don Powell.’

‘Don Powell from Slade?’

‘Yes!’

You suddenly feel a little nervous and you ask incredulously: ‘W-what does he want?’

‘He wants to borrow your drums!’

‘What???’

By this time you can hear more footsteps on the stairs and your father’s voice talking to someone: ‘My favourite was always “Mama We’re All Crazee Now”.’

All of a sudden, Don Powell is in your bedroom with both your parents. You get up, slightly dazed as he offers to shake your hand.

‘Hi, I’m Don. I know it’s a bit of a cheek but I need to ask a favour. Can I borrow your drums?’ Don looks apologetic. ‘I was going to use someone else’s kit but they let me down at the last minute!’

Your mum says: ‘Of course he doesn’t mind! Where’s the concert, Don?’

‘Just a few blocks away, at the Delta Arena. Do you know it?’

In return for lending Don Powell your drums, you and the whole family are invited to the concert, complete with backstage passes, free posters, T-shirts and CDs. What amazes you is how quickly it all happened. A few hours ago you were lying on your bed wondering what it would be like to be a famous drummer, in particular Don Powell from Slade, and then here you are standing in the hospitality area backstage at a Slade gig, which you’ve seen for free, with your parents and your sister, talking to Don, Noddy and the rest of the lads. And all because they borrowed your drum kit!

And, of course, you’re wondering when you’re going to wake up.