Slade entered 1975 as one of Britain’s biggest bands, expecting their film debut to extend their success and help them reach a wider audience, particularly in America. Instead, Slade In Flame was a bleak, realistic portrayal of the music industry, portraying the rise and collapse of a fictional band and shocking audiences who had expected a light-hearted comedy.

Directed by Richard Loncraine, the film drew on real incidents from Slade’s experiences, including violence, exploitation and an episode involving gunfire at a pirate radio station. Slade spent a year making the film while touring America, losing momentum at home; its soundtrack singles performed less strongly, with Far Far Away reaching No. 2 and How Does It Feel? peaking at No. 15, although the film was later recognised as a classic rock movie.