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DON POWELL For listening links here: My whole playlist you can watch and listen here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=41BED8A9790279F0 Interview recorded 31.03.2006 by telephone conference Translations from unedited recording made by Monika Kahle and Ilpo Bister All rights for this interview by Monika Kahle. 1. 40 years with SLADE, 40 years live on stage, that's a long time indeed. Have you ever thought about stopping this job? I was asked that, question 25 years ago, I couldn’t answer it then and I can’t answer it now. There are so many new places for us to play, where we couldn’t go in the, 70’s . The world has become a small place these days !!!! Don Powell: We don’t need rehearsals as such. After 40 years, thats understandable!!! We do rehearse new, songs for, recording at, sound checks and in, dressing-rooms 3. Have you got some other musical activities on your freetime? Don Powell: The whole answer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Dabt7rJZM 4. As a drummer you are doing a really hard work and you are always in the background of the group on stage. Have you ever had a problem with this ? Don Powell: It has never been a problem with me, I love being at the, back, preferably with no lights on. I could never be a, front-man. 5. Can you say that this is your dreamjob and you love it still ? Have you got already some ideas what you would like to do, when SLADE will one day stop playing live on stage ? Don Powell: I have the best job in the, world. Travelling to different countries, seeing places you only read about….and being paid for it !!!! the whole answer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce9jawavwTs 6. In the early years of Slade your name was also mentioned in the credits of many Slade songs and one can pretty easily pick up the songs that you have been writing too, they are in some way a bit calmer and harmonic e.g "Roach Daddy", "See Us Here", "Dapple Rose", "In Like A Shot From My Gun". What was your role in this song writing team ? Did you take part only in lyrics or was you making the tunes ? Don Powell: In the early days I wrote the lyrics to the songs,That was my style of writing at the time. I can’t play any other instruments, except drums and I can’t sing. It took a long time for me to try and sing my ideas to the others. 7. One great track "Dirty Joker" has been credited to you and Jim only that is very exceptional ? Do you remember the history of this song ? It's a strong bass dominated song - written by Jim ? Don Powell: 8. There was something to read in an interview by the Danish author Lise Lyng Falkenberg. She is a huge SLADE fan and has done some interviews with you have told that you would like to write your own biography. Can you tell us more about it ? Don Powell : 9. New Slade album There has also been talk about a new SLADE album. What kind of album will it be ? What kind of music style, do you like to make a ROCK album ? Don Powell : Q: What kind of album... Well, it will be more or less the same like a rock album. 'Cause when we like to record, we like to record songs that we can actually play on stage, that will fit in our show. 10. own songs Have you written also some songs of your own for some solo projects ? Don Powell: 11. What is the best thing in your life, that you never want to loose in your life ? Don Powell: That would be my family, really it's wonderful to have a family life, and the home life, because when you're touring all the time, it can get a bit hectic and chaotic, and it's nice to sort of come back to being normal again with the family and it's wonderful. 12. special memories You have been with SLADE during all the years in such a many countries. What kind of special memories have you got?. Is there something, that you can remember so very well as if it would be from yesterday ? Don Powell: Q: Do you know some German words, Don? Q 13: touring Don Powell: It has been a lot easier of the last few years. I mean in the seventies we could never do that, we never had enough time, the schedule was so heavy, so hectic. We never had much time, but these days it's a lot easier, obviously we have a bit more free time now, so it's nice to take photographs, in few years to show my children or grandchildren where granddad has been, in his younger times, you know. It's nice to see them, and also to refresh my memory, when I look back at them. 14: touring experiences You were recently touring in the very far away east of Russia. Did you get some new exotic experiences ? Don Powell: 15. audiences Is there big differences in your audiences in different countries ? How would you describe your audiences for example in a) Russia b) Germany c) Denmark d) Finland ? Don Powell: Well, I find that the places in like normal European ... like in Germany, Denmark and Finland, because they know all our records, they are all released there, so people know the songs, and they are always joining in. But in Russia, because the records are very hard to get hold of in the seventies, I mean they sort of know the songs, but over there they are bit of sort of..., well more behaving, they just sit down and after each song they applaude and then stop again. It's not until at the end of the show, when they all get up and start dancing. But it is interesting what you asked though, how the different territories, how they react. It's the same in Japan, in Japan they just go crazy from the start. But places like Russia they are a bit more reserved. Which is very strange way of reserved, because when we first went there, we finished the first song, they still just sat there, they just applauded. Which is very strange. 16. East Germany: in 1977 you were playing at Erfurt in East Germany. What kind of impressions have you got from the old GDR ? Did you get some instructions what you can do and what not ? Don Powell : Not really. I suppose we get our impression from the East Germany from the English TV before we got there. But I suppose in a way they are a bit more sort of reserved. I mean I remember in the very early seventies we did a TV show. I think it was in the East Berlin. We went into TV studio and I was asked to leave the TV studio, because I was chewing gum. And they said it was western decadence, so I couldn't chew gum in the TV studio. 17. fans in the East Germany Do you know that SLADE had and have still many fans there, in East Germany ? And it was really hard for the people there to get some SLADE stuff ! But there were in many childrenrooms posters of SLADE ! Don Powell: 18. Slade collections What kind of SLADE collection do you have at home ? Do you have all vinyls and CD`s from SLADE ? What kind of feelings will you get, if you watch some live-show movies from the 70ies ? Don Powell: It's wonderful actually. It's only just recently I have been able to get them, especially the videos. I have all the vinyls in my collection. And there's really a store of Slade collection on CD, which I have all of those. And it's very rare that I listen to them. I like to watch some of the early videos from the live shows from the seventies. It's really nice trying remember where the show was. I got one last week from TV show we did in New York in the seventies. And that was so strange to see that again. I had completely forgotten that one, and that was nice to see. 19. line-ups and contacts There has been some changes in the SLADE line-up since 1992, some guitarists were in SLADE, as Trevor Holliday and Steve Makin. Do you have still contact with them ? Don Powell: 20. Jim LeaHave you heard anything from Jim Lea and his plans about releasing a new album that should more sophisticated and kind of philosophic rock? Knowing his works till 2002, one could trust in that it won`t be any adult-oriented-rock though ? Do you know anything about his doings in the music branch during the last few years? Powell: Funny, but I haven't spoken to Jim for quite a while now. But Jim is such a fantastic musician and I would look forward to hear his recordings. He is so good to work with him in the studio, and I hope he does it well. And I'm looking forward to hear it, when it comes out. 21. Birthday in September This year you will have a special birthday in September ? How do you want to celebrate it ? Also Dave Hill and Noddy Holder have a round birthday this year . Don Powell: Me, Don Powell. Dave Hill's is next week, no Dave Hill's is soon I think. And Noddy Holder's is next and then mine. Oh yes, I'm gonna have a big party. I probably have to sit down in the corner somewhere, have a couple of coke, have a couple of hot chocolate. 22. La Hulpe Last year you had your birthdayparty at Belgium, SLADE was playing on your birthday at La Hulpe and you got a big cake from the gig-organizer. I´m sure that this was a great day for you ? Don Powell: That was so wonderful. I didn't expect that at all. And when they on stage with the big cake that was such a wonderful surprise for me. That was so nice that they wanted to do that.23. words for fans 40 years in SLADE, 40 years SLADE fans, would you like to say some special words here for your fans ? I`m sure, some Slade fans worldwide will be listening to this radioshow today. Don Powell: 24. Mailing list There is an International Slade Mailing List working with some hundreds of fans and friends of your music worldwide. Are you also a member of the list ? Have you got some connections to Slade fans ? Don Powell: 25. Xmas tour plans SLADE plan to make a special show for the Christmas tour and the 40th Anniversary tour in 2006 in UK in December with some special guests from other bands, who are also huge Slade fans. Do you know already and can you reveal who will be as special guests ? Don Powell: 26. In Finland 2006 There are really many bands, who have made cover versions of SLADE songs.One can hear Slade covers in such a many languages. Even in finnish language, in our RMNradio`s Christmas Special Show in December last year we played "Merry Christmas Everybody" in Finnish language. There are also many popular finnish musicians, who are big SLADE fans.You will play this year in Finland too? Don Powell: ( Slade was on the 08.04.2006 at Vuokatti / Finland at the 70`s Rockfestival ) our pictures: http://www.poprocknews.de/galerie/categories.php?cat_id=261&sessionid=c7ceeb399332edf2f259151687cfd41ef&sessionid=c7ceeb399332edf2f259151687cfd41ef 27. Living in Denmark You have been living for some years in Denmark now. Have you found out big differences between Denmark and England ? Do you miss something from England in your everyday life ? Don Powell: 28. Thanks Thank you very much for this interview, we wish for you a great time still. Some very great years together with the band and also for you personally as well for you very sympathic girlfriend Hanne Don Powell: Okay, thank you very much, I really enjoyed this. Thank you so much for taking the time out to do it. And best wishes from Hanne also and the children. |
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interview in the radio show on the 
