That's a really interesting article, which I very vaguely remember reading at the time (but now long lost). Thanks, Lynn! And also Blocoboy, for the scary version of Slade. That's how I first remember them.

Ask yourself why he grew it in the first place.

Well, he's looking at Knebby, isn't he?

There isn't. It's not the book (text) that's of interest, it's the photograph that's in the book. Therefore no need to make the usual insinuations regarding the usual members.

I think the song's writers should have been spelled Cavaliere and Brigati, as in Felix and Eddie of the Young Rascals. Slade looked pretty cool back then! Like it better than the skinhead look.

This is indeed a terrific thread, and thanks from me to Hotplant for the pics, too! I just noticed in this one that the back row in the group pic seem to be labeled backwards, if you see what I mean.

I shall always think of him as Rob3ert now. Really--most of this stuff is new to us in this much detail, and personally I'm loving it just as taking me back to a different time. Please, continue!

Yup, same going on up this end of the state. Crawfish, anyway, and I expect there's beautiful women around, I just haven't noticed!

Theirs was much worse than Jimmy's, I have to say.

Then years later he visited Sonny Boy's grave in Tutwiler, MS, not long before I drove past it. All these connections everywhere.

Never seen that article before! Didn't know they reached the stage of being pulled offstage by fans, either. I must admit, I'm getting a much clearer picture here of Robert's early career.

Here's an oldie but goodie, lest I be accused of not posting pics.

Because s/he was asking about Robert's early band whose name is often cited as "Hobbstweedle" (though as part of the thread discusses, the spelling is inaccurate). The thread then evolved to discuss Robert's early career generally, then Blocoboy arrived with all this great info.

Yeah--I guess I just knew too many girls who got that kind of bouffant hairdo back then!

Don't get me wrong, I love many of the pics you all have been posting, but I'm going to have to finally confess that-- --I've always thought he looks a real prat in this one. Sorry, ladies (and Jimmy)!

Five shillings--what a bargain . . . You'd probably laugh if you knew how much some of us are enjoying seeing all this stuff, Blocoboy--many thanks for sharing it with us.

Very nice pics, Elizabeth--I like the first one in particular.

Like I said, your knowledge of English is better than theirs! It sounds as if Jimmy probably didn't have too much involvement in this song--there were so many in those days that sounded virtually identical, anyway.

PlanetPage, YOUR English is great--automatic Google translations are terrible! ("Jim Lea simply destroy your bottom.") Can you translate the relevant bit for us?

He just doesn't have the wig on straight, that's all--it'd be fine otherwise. He'd probably overdone the elderberry wine.

Well, as that wasn't the word in question, and none of those meanings applied in 1966, probably not!

So he really was leader of those Midlands Flower People . . . (Wiki claims this is a term used by the Women's Institute. First I've heard of it, but then I'm not a member of the W.I. ) Anyway, any more info on Listen, and that scene in general, would be greatly appreciated, Blocoboy.

I think the first really became popularized with Only Fools and Horses, which was well after this--your second suggestion seems more likely!