Slade: "Gypsy Roadhog" Single (1977)
- Slade
- Jan 21, 1977
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 23
Slade’s "Gypsy Roadhog" backed with "Forest Full of Needles", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by Barn Records (catalog number 2014 104) on January 21, 1977.
The sole single from the band's seventh studio album, Whatever Happened to Slade, was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, produced by Chas Chandler, and reached No. 48 on the UK charts.
After returning from the US in late 1976, Slade discovered that the UK music scene had significantly changed since they left in 1975 to pursue success in America. Punk rock had surged to become the leading influence on youth culture and the music media. Once back, the band started working on their new album, Whatever Happened to Slade, and released "Gypsy Roadhog" as the lead single in January 1977. Following their performance of the song on the children's TV show Blue Peter, complaints about the lyrics led to its removal from the Radio 1 playlist. Consequently, the single peaked at No. 48 and stayed in the charts for just two weeks. Whatever Happened to Slade was released in March but did not chart.
The song's lyrics narrated the story of a cocaine dealer in America. In a 1989 interview on Sky by Day, Holder reminisced about the song and its prohibition: "The song was centered on a cocaine dealer in America, but it was intended as an anti-drug message. The following day, newspapers reported that Keith Richards had been arrested for cocaine, with mentions of using silver spoons and such. Blue Peter reacted strongly when they discovered
the song's cocaine theme, as it had already been aired. Radio One banned the record, and it disappeared without a trace.
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