So Here It Is: The Autobiography

by Dave Hill

‘No Slade = No Oasis. It’s as devastating and as simple as that’ Noel Gallagher

Slade’s music and style dominated and defined the 1970s. With six consecutive number one singles they were the UK’s number one group and sold millions of records all over the world. At their peak, Slade enjoyed success and adulation not seen since The Beatles. Now, for the first time, the man whose outlandish costumes, glittering make-up and unmistakable hairstyle made Slade the definitive act of Glam Rock tells his story.

Growing up in a council house in 1950s Wolverhampton, Dave always knew he wanted to be a musician and in the mid-sixties, with Don Powell, founded the band that in 1970 would settle on the name Slade. Their powerful guitar-driven anthems formed the soundtrack for a whole generation, and their Top of the Pops performances, led by their flamboyant, ever-smiling lead guitarist, became legendary.

But So Here It Is reveals that there’s much more to Dave’s life than Top of the Pops and good times. Packed with previously unseen personal photos, the book uncovers surprising family secrets, tells the inside story of the original band’s painful break-up, explores Dave’s battles with depression, his decision to reform Slade and go back on the road and his recovery from the stroke that threatened to cut short his career.

Told with great heart and humour, So Here It Is is the story of the irresistible rise of Dave Hill, Superyob; the definitive account of his journey from working-class lad to global rock star.

Genres: Music, Biography, Autobiography, Memoir, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2017

About the author

There are multiple authors in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Slade when they hit my consciousness as a glam rock obsessed 10 year old, so I was delighted to receive a review copy of ‘So Here It Is: How the Boy From Wolverhampton Rocked the World With Slade’ by Slade’s guitarist, and legendary Super Yob, Dave Hill.

A few years back I read, and really enjoyed, ‘Look Wot I Dun: My Life In Slade’ by Slade’s drummer Don Powell, so the parts of this book which deal with Slade’s history were already quite familiar.

That said, both books are also extremely personal, and say as much about their writers’ personal issues as Slade’s career. Dave Hill has had to contend with a lot over the years, and he writes frankly about his Mum’s mental health issues, his own depression, his stroke, and much more.

Anyone who knows and loves Slade, knows that Dave Hill is first and foremost an entertainer. He was as much a focal point for the group as original legendary Slade singer Noddy Holder. This gregarious and outgoing aspect of Dave Hill's personality shines through in this book, even when he relates the darker aspects of his life and times.

It’s a fascinating read and shows that behind the scenes the group have never really had it easy. Dave Hill emerges as thoroughly likeable, down-to-earth man and his philosophical musings at the book’s conclusion are genuinely inspirational. His life has been characterised by some incredible highs and lows, and this book does them all justice. A very enjoyable read for anyone but, if you’re a Slade fan, it’s essential.

4/5

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to the publishers and netgalley for a free copy for an open and honest review.

So here it is : the story of the guitarist Dave Hill from Slade a band formed in the black country area of the west midlands who talks about growing in the Warstones area of Wolverhampton (in the same council estate where later caitlin Moran grew up).
talks openly about his mother mental health problems and how he feared later on in life he maybe going the same way and how to a degree it was hard work and luck which helped slade become a big band. Interesting how he discusses life after the Original slade with his own health problems and a very close family.
overall the book is quite open and humble gives an insight into slade

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my blog: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to read and review So Here It Is for the blog tour as I grew up hearing Slade all the time as my Mum was a huge fan. Obviously I love Merry Christmas Everyone, and that song has been a part of Christmas ever since I was a young child, but my Mum loved everything they ever did so I feel like I know their music fairly well. I was also a huge Oasis fan back in the day so to hear Noel Gallagher say that without Slade there would be no Oasis made this book an absolute must-read for me. I’m so pleased to say that I loved it.

It was fascinating to read about Dave Hill’s early years growing up on a council estate. I was impressed that his dad was ultimately so agreeable to him joining a band and throwing everything into it. I really enjoyed reading about how Slade got together and how they became famous. It’s funny to get your head around the fact that they had songs in the charts and had appeared on Top of the Pops but Dave Hill was still living with his parents. It’s also hard to comprehend the fact that they were still doing gigs up and down the country, perfecting their craft and growing their fan base after they were deemed to be breaking through in the music industry. It clearly took a lot of very hard work to reach a level of success in the industry back then but it obviously paid off for Slade.

I really loved discovering snippets of info and interesting facts about Slade, and other bands and people they came into contact with over the years that I hadn’t heard before. It made me smile every time they bumped into someone who was either famous then, or about to be famous. It never ever felt like name dropping though, it’s written in such a way as it’s just who they happened to meet at any given time. It’s also fascinating to pick up on just how many bands have said that Slade had influence on them.

Slade had their tough times too. Dave Hill writes about the horrific accident that seriously injured drummer Don Powell and that killed Powell’s girlfriend. I knew about the accident but I didn’t realise the impact it had on Powell and how the band had to adapt to the issues it left him with. I also hadn’t realised that Slade had such a tough time trying to break America and the effect it had on their fan base in the UK while they were off in the USA. Dave Hill is very open about how difficult it was for him when Noddy Holder decided enough was enough as far as Slade was concerned. It clearly left Hill at quite a crossroads and unsure what to do next. Thankfully, he was given some good advice and he took it, and Slade continues to this today!

Dave Hill is very candid in this book. I didn’t know that his mum had struggled so much with mental illness and to read about the effect this had on him was very moving. His love for his mum really comes through, it’s obvious her illness had a profound affect on him but also that she loved him and he loved her. Hill is also very open about his own struggles with depression later on in his own life, and how he worked to get himself healthy again.

So Here It Is is a warm, candid and all-round brilliant memoir and I highly recommend it! It’d be a perfect read for Slade fans, music fans in general and actually for anyone who enjoys reading fascinating memoirs! Just go read it, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

[David Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw Slade at Wembley in 1979 when they were on the same bill as Generation X and The Jam and they were brilliant. Top bloke Dave Hill, founder and lead guitarist with Slade who were colossal in 1973 when I was 13. I started off liking them, then pretending to hate them (and Sweet and T Rex) and pretty quickly realised they were unique and worthy of the baby boomer nostalgia which accounted for their Reading Festival triumph. Their achievements depended upon the usual prosaic virtues of hard work, dedication and talent and when the band took off they were in the vanguard of Glam Rock just as we were getting colour TVs and could appreciate a man in a silver dress on TOTP. Dave, who is left handed, learned to play guitar right handed because that’s what he had. It meant that his stronger left hand could bend the strings downwards which he feels contributed to the band’s unique sound along with Don’s drumming style, Jim’s playing bass like a lead guitar and, of course, Nod’s fabulous rock and roll voice.
The main surprise to me is that, considering his flamboyant stage persona and the group’s success, Dave still struggled to make ends meet when the transience of poptasticness left them hitless and bypassed by the next big thing which was Punk.
The account of his mother’s and his own struggle with mental and physical illness is honest and just goes to show the value of this type of account to readers who may have felt Dave had a life as gilded as his Rolls Royce. Still touring in his 70s with Slade II.

[Dozy Pilchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, read by Dave himself.

I've always loved Slade and Dave's contribution, not only to the music of Slade, but to the British music scene as a whole and, in turn, to our lives.

I'm chuffed he wrote this book as he's a man we all feel a connection with, while actually knowing relatively little about him.

Thanks for the excellent music Dave, and for this insight into your life, it's great! 😀

[David Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Good Read .. Wham Bam Thanx for the Memories Dave

[Book-Social · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the risk of singing THAT song in October I couldn't resist the chance to read So Here It Is by Dave Hill, Slade's co-creator and guitar player. Hill is the one who wore the outfits, had the haircut and the platforms and still plays in the band (or a version of it) today.

The 70s is very much a hidden decade for me, it was the era of my parents and the parents of my husband who still groans when ELO come on the radio. Not being born until the 80s my knowledge of Slade was pretty much limited to THAT song and my standard answer to a 70s music question in a pub quiz was 'Mud' (it didn't yield me many points). I was therefore keen to learn more. What other songs did Slade sing? Where did the name come from? and was Slade even English?

Hill was brilliant at explaining all this and more. I particularly liked the opening chapters describing Hill's early life, he really captured what it was like to grow up in post war England. I didn't expect depression to be such a feature of the book and praise not only a rock legend but a bloke from Wolverhampton in his 70s for coming forward and talking about it. His mother's depression was particularly expertly written and I loved how Hill went at length to point out he did not blame his mother for her illness and the impact this had on him.

As you would expect from a member of a 70s rock band Hill racked up many experiences over the years and many of they are included in the book. Yet despite the gold Rolls Royce and the Top of The Pops appearances it was the experience of buying a house that resonated with me the most. The worry as to whether you can afford it and the problems associated with moving up the social ladder are ones that we can all relate to, even if we aren't being mobbed by girls from the neighbouring school!

Many issues Hill touched upon in the book were relate-able, the importance he placed on putting his career first and missing out on his children growing up and how we only seem to realise this as we age was particularly poignant and something I know I have struggled with.

I think my knowledge of the 70s let me down slightly. Although well detailed certain names were lost on me and I had to Google certain references. You Tube came in handy with the songs mentioned and it turns out I am familiar with quite a few of Slade's back catalogue!

Given that the only thing I knew of Slade beforehand was THAT song I was surprised how little So Here It Is featured in the book and actually liked how Hill handled it. The book demonstrates there was so much more to Slade's story than a Christmas hit and it was right that only a small part of the book was dedicated to it.

Being an autobiography a number of pictures are featured, there is a forward written by Noddy Holder and the paperback copy even includes an extra chapter. I'm really pleased I read it and was surprised how much I got out of it being a non Slade expert. I plan on passing it on to my father in law who is an avid fan and indeed it would make a brilliant Christmas present for lovers of that era. Only 67 days to go people!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superstar of the Seventies, Dave Hill is the memorable one from the group Slade. Not the singer, but a guitarist with a unique taste in stage costume. This is his story, simply told but rich in detail, of not only his life but the life of a singular group who stood outside the mainstream by producing their own distinctive sound. This book, written in the first person by a man with a life experience not totally different from many people of his generation, is not the record of stardom and celebrity tantrums. Instead it records the struggle for financial stability through the music he loves and belonging to groups that have gelled together through some unusual circumstances.
Dave Hill was born and brought up in Wolverhampton, in a community which supported the small clubs and venues that were the setting for early musical ventures of groups which could be set up with unsophisticated equipment. At that stage there were no colleges which offered high tech. courses on musical production, and only basic musical experiences through records which were carefully selected. On a personal level, while Hill’s family were apparently supportive of his budding music career, there were some pressures from his mother’s long term illness. He is honest about the trials of identifying who could work with whom, and the influences on their first songs and indeed hit records. He also recognises the difficulty of being famous and having a following in the clubs with little actual money, despite the input of managers who seemed to have been uniformly honest. There are stories of the pressures of touring, doing small venues and the times when it looked as if Slade had peaked. Their failure to attract success in America is quite a familiar story for many musical acts, and Hill points out the differences between the different parts of the United States that cause problems for anyone to try and influence the entire country. He tells the story of each of their hits very naturally, showing them as the result of much hard work rather than sudden inspiration. He comments on the sound which made Slade stand out, as well as his experimental approach to clothes and hair which made him the memorable member of Slade. He also tells us of his wife, Jan, and her difficulties while he was on tour, with a small daughter and in a large house but away from family support. This is essentially story of a family supporting Hill while he made records and toured with both versions of Slade. He details his health problems, but actually comes over as a really positive person, grateful for opportunities which he has made the most of through the years.
I enjoyed this book more than I imagined that I would. It is consistently written and genuinely interesting in its celebration of a life partly lived in publicity and a pre –internet celebrity. It is a smashing book, full of interest and warmth for family and friends, and reviving memories for many

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the 60s and 70s provided me with the chance to listen to some of the greatest rock music of all time. I know I set myself up to be considered an old codger when I say things like this, but music today seems to be lacking something. My personal belief is that it lacks soul and hearts, relying more on augmented sounds and formulas used to create hits. The end results is music that’s less memorable and something you can rarely sing to even if you can’t sing.

All that being said one of the bands I can remember from the 70s was an English band called Slade. Never a huge success among the group I ran around with I did own a copy of SLAYED?. It wasn’t an album I listened to repeatedly but there were several songs I truly enjoyed. And when I saw them on some shot, perhaps THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, they seemed like a group of guys that actually were having fun with rock stardom. It turns out there is some truth to that.

SO HERE IT IS is the autobiography of Dave Hill, the guitarist for the group and someone responsible for a lot of their flamboyant choices in clothing. Long before the group soared to rock stardom Hill grew up in a Wolver Hampton council house in England. Buying a guitar and teaching himself how to play he began a group with his friend from school Don Powell. They later added Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and a major rock group, Slade, was born.

But it wasn’t easy and it didn’t happen overnight. Hill talks about the good times certainly but he also talks about the bad as well. The long drives and rough nights as they worked month after month to achieve the success that they did. And achieving that success didn’t end there, they had to maintain that success and continue trying to conquer that elusive market known as America.

In addition to the trials and tribulations faced by the band Hill also discusses other aspects of his life. For a rocker it’s amazing that he is still married to Jan the same woman he wed back in the 1970s. He suffered a heart attack and survived that. He survived the breakup of the band as well. Along the way the band had huge hits in various parts of the world and two of their songs were covered with great success by a band called Quiet Riot, “Cum on Feel the Noiz” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”. Both songs did well for Slade but were huge for Quiet Riot.

Through it all Hill has survived and continues to play at age 72. He’s happy and still successful. And he’s written an autobiography that gives us a behind the scenes look at the band and shows life can still be fulfilling. Fans will definitely want to read this and music lovers will as well. It’s an easy read and one that can be enjoyed with no effort.

[Chris Dauten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having known a bit more about Slade than the average American prior to "Run Runaway," I was interested to read this autobiography by co-founder and guitarist Dave Hill. I read a lot of these "rock star" autobiographies and, while most tend to be a bit narcissistic or perhaps an attempt at some sort of justification, "So Here It Is" is neither. Hill's story is as refreshing as the manner in which he tells it. He lets the reader know right off the bat, by relating that he was living at home with his parents at the same time that his band had the number one song in the UK, that there is very little in the way of pretense here. Hill fills the story of Slade with anecdotes that one can tell are written exactly as he's told them dozens of times in the pub with his mates. Rather than putting on airs, Hill's narrative instead lays it on the line: here's what happened, and these are all the things we accomplished, these are the failures we endured, these are the things we did right, these are the mistakes we made, these are the things I'm proud of and these are the regrets I've had. Through it all, Hill's gregarious, humorous and down-to-earth manner makes for a pleasant, as well as informative, read. I quite enjoyed this book and found myself laughing along with Hill as he related incidents that obviously still crack him up or still fill him with wonder after all these years. It's nice to see someone who's gone through so much come out at the other end with a sense that they are content, and I think Hill's genuine humility has a lot to do with that.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t know Merry Xmas Everybody?(which even has its own Wiki entry!) A song from 1973 (was it really that many years ago?) which has become iconic and transcended the generations. Dave Hill was and is a part of Slade who sang and glammed through it all. This is his story. From a brummie boy to a well known face.The one who was known for his silver suits and straight hair. From working at Tarmac to giving it all up to do a months work abroad- which was unheard of at the time. This is a real down to earth story of a working boy-made-good. Dave was and is a hard working man and despite having the trappings of a good life, things haven’t always been that way. When, as the general public, we see someone “famous” we tend to think that the money flows easily in. As Dave explains time and again fortune wasn’t easily had and came and went with records or the lack there of. I think what struck me about this book was Dave’s reflection towards the end. Quoting Wordsworth he pauses and says “ Being still enough in my own mind, clear enough to see the sun sparkling on the water, that matters to me now. You can have your mind so cluttered with thinks that you miss it” A man who has realised what the precious things in life are and is fortunate enough to be here to enjoy them when things could have been so different. A very interesting, highly enjoyable read. Nice one Superyob!
For more reviews please see my blog http://n

[CAPITAL ONE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slade were the first live band I saw aged 13; the were my idols back then and I will never forget Dave Hill opening their set up with the thunderous chords of Take me back ome. I can still hear it now.
This book was an obvious choice for me, I was interested to know about Dave Hill the person as well as the rock star.
Dave tells his story in a relaxed manner, as one review has already mentioned, it's like sitting down over a beer with him recalling his life story.
You get a real sense of how Dave was bought up in the Midlands and the struggles his mother had with her mental health and Dave's perspective on how he dealt with that at the time and his reflection many years later after he suffered with his own depression.
He tells of how Slade came to be and how much his 50 year friendship with drummer Don Powell means to him.
Dave Hill didn't write Slade's hits but he was the most glamorous of the four as he says in the book to Noddy Holder 'you write em, I'll sell em' which was true.
Dave also gives an insight into how he managed to recover from a stroke.
Dave Hill clearly thanks his lucky stars and credits a lot to his family particularly his wife Jan whom he obviously adores.
If you think that this book relates to a 'Rock stars life of drug and girl fuelled parties' think again; this is a real down to earth life story.
Dave Hill is still one of my heroes and I look forward to seeing him again with the current Slade, 'Take me Bak Om' Dave!

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a schoolboy in the 70's I was well aware of Slade and enjoyed their foot-stomping records. I thought their sound was great and Noddy Holder’s rasping down and dirty vocals were such a breath air from the saccharine sounds of the teenyboppers idols such as Donny Osmond, David Cassidy and the likes at the time.

I was never in to Glam Rock, so I didn't like Dave Hill. He didn't seem to be taking it seriously and his outrageous outfits spoilt it for me when I ever saw them on TV. Now over 40 years later, I like Dave Hill, thanks to this book.

It’s a frank, warts and all, look at of what it was like to co-create and be in one of the most successful and popular bands of the early seventies. The ups and downs and the fickle and sometime very nasty and unforgiving world of the music business are all covered in this chatty and readable account from a guy who was out to enjoy himself and entertain, whether people, like me, didn't like him or not. He didn't care, but he did care about his music and most of all he cared about Slade, which is why he is still performing with Slade 2 well beyond retirement age.

The book does cover the darker side of success, mental illness, and depression, but rather then distract, it adds to truthful autobiography and I must take this opportunity to apologise to Dave Hill. I’m sorry Dave, I misjudged you, keep on rocking!

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Autobiography of Dave Hill the flamboyant guitarist from British rock pop stars Slade, is a fantastic read.
The early childhood beginnings, growing up on a council estate in post war Wolverhampton then through the changing face of Britain during the 1950s and 1960s ,and the music influences of this time to start playing in his own bands which led to the formation of Slade.He writes about his battles with depression and his recovery from a stroke after the painful breakup of the band, to reforming Slade II , with two new band members joining him and drummer Don Powell, in the 1990s.

It is the glam rock era of the early 1970s which is the main focus of his life ,with six consecutive number one hits , and his time with the other three ,releasing their funny mis-spelt song titles (to wind up the establishment at that time) to the seasonal record thats always played every year nearly fifty years after it was first written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. Reading this entertaining book you realize that Slade wern't just for Christmas they were for life.

[Steve Coscia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun autobiography about one of Rock's lesser known guitarists.. Dave Hill played in Slade - one of Great Britain's 1970 glitter bands. His personal story is entertaining and candid. Slade came from the "Black Country" or the Midlands in Great Britain (not too far from Black Sabbath origins).

Slade's early 70s rise to stardom, their failure to win over the USA, their near demise upon returning to Great Britain and their second round of stardom at the 1980 Reading Festival.

Dave shares his issues with depression and emotional issues during his senior years. All of this makes the autobiography easy to relate to for this mid-60s reader.

Dave Hill's lack of stature does not diminish his impact on my life. Slade played the Calderone Concert Hall in August 1975 and they blew us away - definitely one of Rock's better moments. Glad I got to see Slade live - one of the LOUDEST bands ever.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up in the 70's it was great to relive some of my fond memories from that era by reading this biography by Dave Hill who was the guitarist in top pop group Slade, the top British group for a short while. Dave Hill was always a colourful character and was responsible for much of the fun side and showmanship of the group. This book made me remember a lot of the fun times of that era but also made me more aware of the goings on behind the scenes. It was interesting to read of the bands success but also of Dave's depression and subsequent stroke which threatened to end his career. This is an excellent read for people of a certain age group and an excellent insight into not only the success of the group but also the struggles.
I would like to thank Net Galley for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tony S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up with Slade and lived in the Midlands I was really interested to read this book. I was not disappointed. This is a really easy read and gives a good insight into one of the biggest bands of the 70's. I remember much of what was talked about in the book especially the TV interview when Dave moved into his new house with the girls school next door.
The book takes us through Dave growing up the forming of Slade and onto the leaner years and then into the success they now enjoy again. This really is a highly recommended autobiography.

[Alsav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who can forget Dave Hill who looked more and more ridiculous on Top of the Pops in Slade?
This book is very open and honest and it gives some great insights into how Slade worked together as a band. It's also very sobering as, after all that fame, they struggled to get a hit by the end of the 70s.
Dave is a great guitarist too and so underrated from that era. What a lovely book from a lovely no-nonsense bloke. I highly recommend this book as a crackin' read. I like it so much I am now reading it all again!

[Mr David H Pails · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and honest

Having just finished Pete Way's autobiography which, although entertaining was a tale of self induced spiral into substance abuse and ultimately made me feel sad that talent was wasted (pun intended) this book is a refreshing tale of someone grateful for his success. It's a tale of highs and lows, good and bad luck and someone who's working class upbringing has underpinned all his life. Good luck to the bloke, and Don, Jim and Noddy. As he says, he still has a love of music, playing live and entertaining people. Long may he continue

[R7835 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was OK. Didn't really give much away - I don't even know what the deal with YOB is. Guess it's for more clued up fans. I was hoping for a bit more 'gossip' - I know that Slade spent time in the same 'social circles' as Zeppelin, particularly in America, so was hoping for some tales I hadn't read before, but I was out of luck.

As a bonus it was an Unbound book so I got a free 'Baby Name Ideas' book at the end.

[Jon Ellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slade is one of my favourite bands. I went to see them at the O2 Academy in Leicester and that's where I purchased Dave Hill's book.
This one of course explores his history including his childhood, his days with Slade, recent times, but also moments of trauma; he notes that his mother experienced mental health issues up until her death and how he dealt with a midlife crisis when Slade's official line-up split.
An autobiography I'd definitely recommend.

[Sinead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book (I listened to the audio version narrated by Dave himself). He is fascinating, warm and funny with a chuckle that made me smile. He is honest about the bad times & grateful for the good times (& humble with it). I wasn't alive in Slade's heyday but aware of many of their hits. This is a really interesting read. Dave seems a lovely family man & I feel like I know him a lot better after it.

[robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about a lovely guy

A great read about the life of a British icon. Dave Hill is a modest man who achieved fame, almost lost it and then came back fighting. He's not too proud or afraid to bear his frailties and leaves nothing unturned of his family life,the support of his dad and the struggles of his mother's illness. I really looked forward to reading this every night and was quite sad to actually finish it.

[David Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking good read

Dave Hill down to earth guy, great insight into the four hardworking lads in Slade, how he got on with all the ups and downs of the break up of the originals, saw the originals in Glasgow, bet they are just as good as they were then with the new guys, good luck ups for many years to come .

[Jonny Brick · Rating 2 out of 5]

An equal split between the rise and fall of Slade and the childhood and post-success years. Very good on the need for Slade to bring colour to early seventies Britain, and on his ill mum. Padded a bit, and a bit too much repetition which could have gone in the edit. Perhaps they had to hit a word count.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows Slade…right?  The Mighty Slade!! Even if you are too young to recognise them by sight or remember them on Top of the Pops, you will all know the distinct tones of Noddy Holder shouting “It’s Christmas” all the way through December on every radio station in the land.  But when I think of Slade, I also think of Dave Hill, the outrageous showman and lead guitarist, and also one of the two founding members of the super group!  This is Dave’s story.

I love an autobiography of a rock star and what better known one from the area where I live now is Dave Hill from Slade.  I heard lots of tales from people who have seen Dave in passing around Wolverhampton and I’ve even seen him myself going into a bank in a local shopping mall.  Growing up in a council house in Wolverhampton, no more than a few miles from where I’m sat right now, Dave always knew he wanted to be a musician.  This books tells his story right through from when he was a little boy to the man he is now.

The book gives a great insight on the inside lives of the group that was seen as the next Beatles, how they founded the group, the trials and tribulations of playing so many shows around the UK and successes and pitfalls of being such a well-known group.  It also though gives an extremely intimate look into the personal life of Dave Hill.  This guy has had such an interesting, and at times heart-breaking life.  His mum suffering from mental health issues and his sister dying when he was younger particularly tugged on the heartstrings, along with Dave’s ill health later in life.

Roll everything into one and what you get is this book full of memories, anecdotes, tears and laughter.  Perfect for any music fan, absolutely spot on for any fans of Slade!  Told from the heart by a true entertainer, this is an open and enjoyable read from the great Dave Hill.  This book is definitely well worth the read!

[Barry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slade Still Alive

A must read book for old and new slade fans a true in site to shirt was like to be slade in the hey day and not so good times. Although I was never lucky enough to see Slade I have seen slade 2 and was not disappointed. If you get the chance go and see them.

[A W Main · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Slade fan I was semi entertained by this. It would have worked better at half the length in my ooinion. A bit of judicious editing to cut down on the repetition would have been greatly appreciated.

[John Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice book and doesn't hide his problems. Dave did seem obsessed, and quite frequently, on how Slade stacked up against The Beatles. I know he was a fan of theirs, but I can't work out if he actually thinks they were on par with The Beatles or not. They were a decent group who wrote some great ballads as well as rockers, they were of their time, but no they weren't the second Beatles.

[Allen Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, the fact Dave Hill reads it makes the book sound more genuine and authentic. Offers an interesting explanation how being in a successful rock band doesn’t make you instantly rich and how easily you lose that fortune.