FAR FAR AWAY – SLADE
“FAR FAR AWAY” IS A SINGLE FROM ROCK BAND SLADE WHICH APPEARED ON THE ALBUM SLADE IN FLAME. IT WAS WRITTEN BY LEAD SINGER NODDY HOLDER AND BASSIST JIM LEA. THE SINGLE WAS RELEASED IN 1974 AND PEAKED AT #2 IN THE UK, SPENDING 6 WEEKS ON THE CHART AND 5 WEEKS IN THE TOP 10.
THE SINGLE WAS CERTIFIED UK SILVER BY BPI IN NOVEMBER 1974.
THE SINGLE PEAKED AT #63 FOR 1974 ON RATEYOURMUSIC AND #4886 FOR OVERALL SINGLES.[4]
AS REFERENCED IN SINGER NODDY HOLDER’S BIOGRAPHY, FAR FAR AWAY REMAINS HIS FAVOURITE SLADE SONG.[8]
HOLDER ORIGINALLY CAME UP WITH THE LYRICS WHILE STANDING ON A BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN MEMPHIS. MANAGER CHAS CHANDLER INSPIRED HOLDER TO COMPLETE THE SONG. JIM CONTRIBUTED THE CHORUS TO HOLDER’S VERSE.
1959, BILLIE HOLIDAY DIED IN A NEW YORK CITY HOSPITAL FROM CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER AFTER YEARS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE, AGED 43. (WHILE UNDER ARREST FOR HEROIN POSSESSION, WITH POLICE OFFICERS STATIONED AT THE DOOR TO HER ROOM.) IN THE FINAL YEARS OF HER LIFE, SHE HAD BEEN PROGRESSIVELY SWINDLED OUT OF HER EARNINGS, AND SHE DIED WITH $0.70 IN THE BANK.
1968, THE ANIMATED FILM YELLOW SUBMARINE, PREMIERED AT THE LONDON PAVILION. THE BEATLES MADE A CAMEO APPEARANCE IN THE FILM BUT DIDN’T SUPPLY THEIR OWN VOICES FOR THE CHARACTERS.
1971, JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO APPEARED ON THE BBC LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW, PARKINSON, WHERE JOHN CHASTISED THE BRITISH MEDIA FOR CALLING YOKO “UGLY” AND FOR SAYING THAT SHE BROKE UP THE BEATLES.
1993, GUNS N’ ROSES APPEARED AT RIVER PLATE STADIUM IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, IN FRONT OF 80,000 PEOPLE, THE FINAL SHOW ON THEIR USE YOUR ILLUSION TOUR. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT WAS ENGLISH DRUMMER COZY POWELL PLAYING DRUMS WITH MATT SORUM, DRESSED AS A DOMINO’S PIZZA DELIVERY BOY
1972, A BOMB EXPLODED UNDER THE ROLLING STONES EQUIPMENT VAN IN MONTREAL, BELIEVED TO BE THE WORK OF FRENCH SEPARATISTS. ANGRY FANS RIOTED THROWING BOTTLES AND ROCKS AFTER 3,000 TICKETS FOR THE SHOW TURNED OUT TO BE FAKE
1975, BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS PLAYED THE FIRST OF TWO NIGHTS AT THE LYCEUM, LONDON, AND BOTH NIGHTS WERE RECORDED FOR THE NOVEMBER RELEASED ‘LIVE’ ALBUM, FEATURING THE SINGLE ‘NO WOMAN NO CRY.’
1979, GARY MOORE LEFT THIN LIZZY DURING A US TOUR AND WAS REPLACED BY EX SLICK & RICH KIDS GUITARIST MIDGE URE.
2004, HALF OF THE 4,500 PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WALKED OUT OF LINDA RONSTADT’S SHOW AT THE ALADDIN RESORT AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS AFTER THE SINGER DEDICATED AN ENCORE OF ‘DESPERADO’ TO FILMMAKER MICHAEL MOORE AND URGED THE CROWD TO SEE HIS FILM FAHRENHEIT 9/11.
BORN TODAY
1941 – SPENCER DAVIS, GUITAR
1947 – WOLFGANG FLUR, ELECTRONIC DRUMS, KRAFTWERK
1949 – GEEZER BUTLER, BASS, BLACK SABBATH
1949, – -MICK TUCKER, DRUMS, SWEET. DIED OF LEUKAEMIA ON 14TH FEBRUARY 2002.
1952, BORN ON THIS DAY, CHET MCCRACKEN, DRUMS, THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
1952, BORN ON THIS DAY, PHOEBE SNOW, US SINGER, SONGWRITER, (1979 UK NO.37 SINGLE ‘EVERY NIGHT’)
1970, BORN ON THIS DAY, MANDY SMITH, IN 1983 AT AGE 13 SHE STARTED DATING THE THEN 47 YEAR OLD ROLLING STONES BASSIST BILL WYMAN. THE COUPLE MARRIED IN 1989, DIVORCED 1992. SMITH BECAME A SINGER, MODEL AND ACTRESS
1982, BORN ON THIS DAY, NATASHA HAMILTON, VOCALS, ATOMIC KITTEN, (2000 UK NO.1 SINGLE ‘WHOLE AGAIN’).
