Music icon Noddy Holder wisdom helped the popular comedian
Peter Kay, the much-adored comedian, has at last revealed the reasons behind his notable absence from the limelight in recent years. Interestingly, it all connects to Noddy Holder, his co-star from “Max & Paddy’s Road to Nowhere”. Moreover, when it comes to offering sage advice, it appears that Noddy isn’t only a formidable presence on screen but also a guiding influence off it too!
Noddy Holder, the rock god from the Black Country wasn’t just the booming voice behind Slade – he WAS Slade! As the lead belter and rhythm guitar maestro of one of the 70s most iconic British rock bands, his powerful vocal cords had the nation bopping to anthems like “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” and getting festive with “Merry Xmas Everybody”. And talk about talent – Holder didn’t just croon; he penned most of Slade’s smash hits alongside bassist Jim Lea. After bidding Slade farewell in ’92, our Noddy swapped the stage for the screen, starring in ITV’s comedy-drama, ‘The Grimleys’.
Reflecting on their time together, Kay couldn’t help but gush, “What a lovely fella he was. We spent a lot of time together and he gave me some advice that literally changed my life forever. I was talking about the tour I’d done the previous year and that I’d made some money from it. He said you want to use that money to buy yourself some time with your family.”
The timing was poignant. Kay and his missus, Susan, had just welcomed their first bundle of joy into the world. By jove, every ounce of Peter wanted to be there, right by their side. And Noddy Holder, in his candid manner, opened up about his own past.
Noddy Holder was born slap bang in the heart of Walsall, Staffordshire in 1946 and he wasn’t always the glam rock legend we know today. At the tender age of seven, young Noddy traded the bustling Caldmore for the Beechdale Estate, rubbing shoulders with future rock royalty like Rob Halford. With his dad working as a window cleaner, Noddy showed early promise. In ’57, he breezed through the eleven-plus and strutted into grammar school. But as fate would have it, the school shut its doors a year later. From council estate to rock elite, what a journey!
Peter Kay continued: “Noddy said that he was from working-class roots and spent most of his early career chasing the money. He ended up being estranged from his children and deeply regretted his decisions.
“Fortunately, he said that he’d been able to put things right and now had a great relationship with his children. ‘So think on it and don’t miss out like I did,’ he said. ‘They grow up so quickly and you really don’t want to miss it.’ I’m not being over-sentimental, but that conversation did change my outlook on everything.”
Peter Kay, never one to wear his heart on his sleeve, admitted, “ I’m not being over-sentimental, but that conversation did change my outlook on everything.
“I’d been grabbing every opportunity with both hands in an effort to get my foot in the door, going from job to job for years and not considering what really mattered,” he said.
And the proof’s in the pudding. Although “Max & Paddy’s Road to Nowhere” was a roaring success, Peter decided to take a step back.
“The series did incredibly well, but despite having so much fun I decided to heed Noddy Holder’s advice. Perhaps it was time to get my priorities right. Maybe that’s why we never did a second series,” Peter explained.