Having won the NME's Champion Blockhead competition in 1978, Slim got to know Ian Dury and the Blockheads. On discovering that he could play, they invited him to play Hammond Organ on the track Blockheads at the last night of their tour at Gants Hill Odeon.
Slim did the same at the Concerts for Kampuchea at Hammersmith Odeon, where the Clash were supporting.
Slim then went out on the Clash 16 Tons tour, and met Joe Ely who was supporting.
In 1981, Slim served a 6 month apprenticeship with the Wreckless Eric Band on Vox Continental.
In 1982, he joined Roddy Radiation and the Tearjerkers on piano and accordion.
In 1983? he also started playing with the Ruff-House All-stars, featuring Nigel and Mark from the Meteors, and Bal from the Stingrays.
In 1984, he joined The Boothill Foot-Tappers and The Blubbery Hellbellieson Accordion, and also played with the Skiff Skats, and the busking band, The Spartans. Around this time Slim also recorded "Power in a Union" with Billy Bragg under the name "Duck Bill Patterson and the Pattersons", which is on Billy's new CD Box-set.
The dates after this are guesses and estimates as it all got a bit complicated!
In 1986 he joined the Forest Hill Billies and also played with the Potato 5 - both Ska bands, on Accordion.
In 1987 he played piano for Howlin' Wilf and the Vee-Jays (now James Hunter)
In 1988 he played piano for Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings.
In 1989? he formed the Cuspidors with Little Paul, the harmonica player.
When Little Paul left, this evolved into Slim's Cyder Co.(a bad pun on the word Zydeco)
Along with all this, Slim continued the Texas connection through Joe Ely, playing and touring with Butch Hancock, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and the recently departed, Jesse Taylor, and visiting Austin Texas to sit in with as many bands as possible.
Also, for many years, Slim has guested with Wilko Johnson and his band, on accordion. More recently, Slim has been playing with The Urban Voodoo Machine.
Slim's Cyder Co. have a CD - Journey into Cyderspace - produced by Boz Boorer - available direct from Slim.
As well as all the music, Slim occasionally plays parts in TV adverts. you can check him out in advert for Vitaminic.com, the internet music company, where he plays the part of a member of a boy band, Sensation Four, who are way past their best.
Slim's Cyder Co. are now also on YouTube
