Slade’s Don Powell recovering after bowel cancer surgery

23 May 2022, 11:08 | Updated: 19 September 2023, 14:26

Noddy Holder of Slade hits the red carpet at photocall

Don Powell is on the mend and back home just days after undergoing surgery.

Former Slade drummer Don Powell is recovering at home after undergoing surgery for bowel cancer.

Powell's wife Hanne shared a photo and a message with Slade fan account Slade Are For Life – Not Just For Christmas last week shortly after the operation.

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"Don was diagnosed with bowel cancer a week ago and today he was operated on," read the message posted on Thursday (May 19).

"He is just back from the recovery room and ready for a cup of tea and chocolate. He feels great!"

A follow-up message posted on Saturday (May 21) read: "Amazing! 48 hours ago Don was just waking up after spending 4 and a half hours on the operating table, and now he is ready to go home!"

Don was a founding member of Slade when formed The N'Betweens with Noddy Holder, Dace Hill and Jim Lea in 1966.

He stayed with Hill after Noddy and Jim left the group in 1992, but was forced from the lineup by Hill in 2020.

It was reported last year that Noddy had said the original lineup should get back together and play the Legends Slot at Glastonbury – but his manager Colin Newman claimed that the purported interview never actually took place.

As well as Dave Hill, the current Slade lineup also features John Berry on bass and vocals, Russell Keefe on vocals and keyboards and Alex Bines on drums.

Rumours of a comeback were resparked again this year when Noddy's wife Suzan Holder posted a new photo of Noddy and Dave together.

"Lunch TODAY 👍 I will not be taking any further questions 😜 #NoddyHolder #DaveHill #Slade," she captioned the photo.

While the meet-up was likely just old friends meeting up, Noddy has long been working on new music.

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Back in 2020, he said: "I have a stockpile written over the years.

"I didn't just stop, bang, and that was the end of the story. I still have moments when I get the inspiration. But I couldn't do it night after night, year after year."

He brushed aside the possibility of a Slade reunion then, but of a solo live comeback he said: Well, never say never – I might do it now. If they ever let me out of the house.

"I'm brushing up on my guitar technique, going back to my roots."