Noddy Holder remembers first Walsall gig
Rock legend Noddy Holder has reminisced about his first ever show in Walsall in a radio interview where he says he has never forgotten his Black Country roots.
The Slade star shared his memories of growing up in the Black Country on BBC WM as part of a new series being aired every week called Way Back Wednesday.
Talking to host Alex Lester in Walsall Town Hall, Noddy, who played at the venue with band 'NBetweeners, said: “Growing up in Walsall in the 40s and 50s the town was better known for its factories than its music scene.
"But at the heart of this community was the town hall.
"We played our very first show in 1966, this is where my career as a professional musician began.”
He added: "If you can please the Midlands crowd, you can please anybody. You couldn't get away with murder, you had to be good.
"We had that something which other bands didn't have."
On coming from the Black Country, he said: "I think we never forgot our roots.
"We were proud of the Midlands, and we shouted from the rooftops where ever we met.
"We never shied away from the fact we were a midlands band, a Black Country band and our music was rooted in the Black Country. That's what we were all about.
"When we got famous as a band we used to go around the world and half the people could not understand what we were laughing at.
"We had that inner Black Country sense of humour and it kept us going through the hard times."
Noddy was born in the Caldmore district of the borough and has always remained close to the community.
He is the voice of the lift in the art gallery, visits the local hospitals and schools as well as always popping back for a ‘decent curry.’
He made his singing debut at seven-years-old at Walsall Labour Working Men’s Club before forming Slade in the 60s and reaching international rock stardom with hits including Merry Xmas Everybody and Cum on Feel the Noize.
Mr Lester said: “It was an honour to go to Walsall Town Hall with Noddy, somewhere that meant so much to him - a place that will go down in rock history thanks to him.
"There is something really special about going back in time in your hometown - to those places that bring the memories flooding back."
