So Here It Is: How the Boy From Wolverhampton Rocked the World With Slade

Product Description

In the 1970s, when Slade were the biggest band in the UK, Dave Hill was always the one having the most fun. With twenty-three Top 20 hits, six consecutive number-one singles and the smash hit 'Merry Xmas Everybody' (which has charted every year since), Slade were unstoppable. Now, for the first time, the man whose outlandish costumes, glittering make-up and unmistakable hair style made Slade one of the definitive acts of the Glam rock era, tells his story. Dave Hill's journey from a Wolverhampton council house to rock royalty follows a classic arc- he bought his first guitar from a mail-order catalogue and taught himself to play, before forming a band with his school friend, Don Powell. When, in 1966, they were joined by the song-writing powerhouse of Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, a great rock band was born. Slade's blend of power-chords, memorable hooks, choruses and anthemic lyrics formed the soundtrack for a whole generation growing up in the 1970s - and leading it all in flamboyant style was the irrepressible, always-smiling Dave Hill. But there's more to Dave's life than rock'n'roll and good times. So Here It Is also frankly covers the original band's painful break-up, Dave's subsequent battle with depression, and his recovery from the stroke that threatened to cut short his performing career. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be a working-class lad from the Midlands suddenly confronted by unimaginable fame and wealth, So Here It Is is the definitive account, served with great heart and humour and filled with Dave's own collection of new and unseen photos.In the 1970s, when Slade were the biggest band in the UK, Dave Hill was always the one having the most fun. With twenty-three Top 20 hits, six consecutive number-one singles and the smash hit 'Merry Xmas Everybody' (which has charted every year since), Slade were unstoppable. Now, for the first time, the man whose outlandish costumes, glittering make-up and unmistakable hair style made Slade one of the definitive acts of the Glam rock era, tells his story. Dave Hill's journey from a Wolverhampton council house to rock royalty follows a classic arc- he bought his first guitar from a mail-order catalogue and taught himself to play, before forming a band with his school friend, Don Powell. When, in 1966, they were joined by the song-writing powerhouse of Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, a great rock band was born. Slade's blend of power-chords, memorable hooks, choruses and anthemic lyrics formed the soundtrack for a whole generation growing up in the 1970s - and leading it all in flamboyant style was the irrepressible, always-smiling Dave Hill. But there's more to Dave's life than rock'n'roll and good times. So Here It Is also frankly covers the original band's painful break-up, Dave's subsequent battle with depression, and his recovery from the stroke that threatened to cut short his performing career. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be a working-class lad from the Midlands suddenly confronted by unimaginable fame and wealth, So Here It Is is the definitive account, served with great heart and humour and filled with Dave's own collection of new and unseen photos.
Dave Hill was born in a castle in Devon and moved back with his parents to Wolverhampton when he was a year old. As a teenager he taught himself to play guitar and formed his first band, The Young Ones while at school. In 1964 he joined drummer Don Powell in local R&B band, The Vendors. They became the The 'N Betweens and when Jim Lea and singer Noddy Holder joined in 1966, the band renamed itself Slade. In the early 70s Slade went on to have 23 Top 20 hits and six number one singles. Three of these singles entered the chart at number one (an achievement that even eluded the Beatles). Released in 1973, Merry Xmas Everybody went on to sell a million copies and has charted every year since. Their film Slade in Flame (1975) was also a hit regarded by some as 'the Citizen Kane of rock musicals'. After the break-up of the original band, Dave Hill eventually reformed Slade with Don Powell. Twenty-five years later, they are still regularly touring the world, playing to hundreds of thousands of fans. Dave married his wife Jan in 1973, and they have three children and four grandchildren. They still live in Wolverhampton.