DAVE HILL

David John Hill born 4th April 1946

Fleet Castle, Devon, England

lead guitar, backing vocals

Formed Slade II in 1993 together with

Don Powell and is still touring very successful in Europe.

An evening with Dave Hill in Birmingham 25.4.2012

Cum on feel the Noize, The Beast beats

"I was thinking today… I need a hero.
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life

Then I remembered that I already have one and his name is Dave Hill, the lead guitarist of the insanely popular 70s band from the UK, Slade. Cum on Feel the Noize anyone? What I like about this guy is that homeboy could rock the sequins and the high-heeled platform boots like a champ. A real CHAMP. He was money even before money was money. His hair cut was like a renaissance mullet or something, with these super short bangs that topped off a smooth flowing Kentucky waterfall. I know what you’re thinking because I’m thinking it too…AWESOME!!!

There was a particular style of head-dress that he seemed to fancy. I suppose it was Egyptian-Pharoah looking, so that may have been the appeal for him. It covered his head so that only his face was poking out, like Beavis in Cornholio mode. The head-dress was encrusted with sequins, big ones at that, and he shone like a beacon of glam.

So, If you too are looking for a hero, you needn’t look far. He’s right here waiting for you, bathed in sequins and light."

The Beast beats 18.12.2009

YouTube Video

YouTube- Dave Hill about 40 years in Slade

1979 Wiesbaden / Germany

Dave Hill about Slade musical by Mike Read

Dave Hill talks on Radio Roedovre about Slade musical written by Mike Read. Dave Hill was interviewed by the Danish Radio in the beginning of February 2005, when Slade II had a concert at Roedovre.

http://www.radioroedovre.dk/slade/intewmix_internet/davehill_3.mp3

The whole Dave Hill interview:

http://www.radioroedovre.dk/slade/intewmix_internet

With a new Slade box set entitled The Slade Box being released, guitarist and Black Country legend Dave Hill speaks exclusively to the Express & Star about the band and his career.

Cick here for watchin the video:

http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/video/news/061003_dave1/

Dave says the release has been a welcome reminder of the band’s achievements - even he had forgotten some of their work!

This is just the first part of our video interview - more will follow in the coming weeks.

And keep reading the Express & Star for details of a special series of Slade articles to mark the release.
Competition: Win a four disc Slade box set by sending us your memories of Slade. The best entry will win a copy of The Slade Box. Email us with your stories, including your full name and address, internet@expressandstar.co.uk

See also Andy Toft´s blog : STILL CRAZEE NOW

http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2006/10/04/still-crazee-now/

So how do you follow up our fantastic fly-on-the-wall experience with Chasetown?

Well interviewing genuine rock royalty isn’t bad for starters.

Today’s assisgnment took us to the bar at Wolverhampton’s Novotel where we met Slade star Dave Hill

The glam rock icon is promoting the launch of a new box set of CDs charting the band’s rise from Black Country upstarts to worldwide fame.

And boy can the man talk.

Dave spent a good hour chatting about all sorts of topics from their humble beginnings at St Giles Youth Club in Willenhall to their first meeting with pop svengali Chas Chandler.

His stories were as entertaining and as flamboyant as the outfits he used to wear on stage.

He told us about the time they were kicked offstage at a Scunthorpe working men’s club because members couldn’t hear themselves playing snooker.

The legendary guitarist also revealed how Slade became big in the Soviet Union and other communist countries - their fun approach to music providing the perfect antidote to the grim reality of life behind the iron curtain.

Dave spoke about how Sharon Osbourne managed the band in the United States, admitted he would love to play a reunion gig with Noddy Holder, revealed he is currently a big Razorlight fan and said he was surprised to hear James Blunt covering Slade’s Cuz I Luv U at a gig in Wolverhampton.

By the time he had finished we had a 45 minute interview which is proving really difficult to edit because it was all quality stuff.

It’s sure to be a big hit with all Slade fans - but maybe not with the Novotel receptionist who had never heard of the band or Dave Hill.

In her defence, she was barely in her 20s and was from eastern Europe.

For anyone aged 30 and over, and from these parts though, Dave is still pure star quality.

Andy Toft is the Express & Star’s video journalist

http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2006/10/04/still-crazee-now/

Dave Hill interview, RTL April 2006, recorded at Rockin 70s Vuokatti 08.04.

Dave Hill interview in a short talk about recording "Far Far Away"

for "Die ultimative Chart Show" at Germany on the 4th April 2006, it was on his 60th birthday.

Recorded from Ilpo Bister from Helsinki at Vuokati / Finland 8th April 2006

YouTube - Dave Hill is talking about RTL studio recording 4.4.2006

Dave Hill about 40 years in Slade

YouTube - Dave Hill about 40 years in Slade

Dave Hill Interview, Tampere Cumulus Hotel 26.02.2005

Slade played an excellant gig on Saturday evening 26th February 2005 at Tampere, Tullikamaris Pakkahuone. Earlier in the afternoon Dave Hill kindly answered in few questions at their Cumulus hotels lounge bar.

1. How did Slade II get its line-up in 1992?

"The guitarist Steve Makin and Craig Fenney work in music shops so I knew them. And Steve Whalley came to audition for the job and was recommended by Neville Martin from Guitarist Magazine."

2. And where did you find John Berry on the bass and what kind of background has he got before Slade?

"John Berry was bass guitarist for Les Grays Mud and we knew him well. He has played for many groups; Bay City Rollers, Tremeloes and has a small group of his own."

3. You make lots of gigs each year. Do you need any rehearsals or is playing together at the gigs enough?

"We sometimes rehearse if a new song is needed, but otherwise the gigs are enough for us."

4. You have written some great songs with Bill Hunt and "Take Me Home" with Steve Whalley and a couple of great Blessings In The Disguise songs. Do you have any new songs written lately and any plans for new records?

"Yes I do and maybe we will record in 2005 this ear."

5. Where did you get the idea for "Take Me Home", it has got very fine atmosphere and a good melody? Bluesy kind of feeling from Steves affection in blues music?

"I felt I wrote a song which I somehow thought I wrote years ago and Steve put new lyrics and sang it his way, which was good too. It has a nice feeling too."

6. Have you got any new infromation about the state of the Slade musical by Mike Read?

"We are talking to Mike Read about it at the moment. We have not made our minds up about it yet."

7. Have you rehearsed or planning to put any new songs into your set list?

"Not at the moment, but we should think about it."

8. In 2006 Slade has been 40 years "on the road". Do you have any plans already of celebrating it in some way?

"No plan at the moment. Its too early yet."

9. There are not many German dates yet in the Amazing Slade websites gig calendar for 2005. Do you yourself know, if there are more German gigs coming yet?

"There will be more German dates, which we will confirm later in the year."

10. One Finnish rock musician was remembering recently Slades Kuusrock Festival show in Oulu 1982 and said on the radio that "it was so sicking fantastic that one could not but laugh. When you see something absolutely great, you can not but laugh." What kind of memories have you got from Finland?

"Finland has many Slade fans and likes rock music. It keeps you warm in the winter. So we like to come here a lot."

Greetings to Slade fans from Dave Hill:

"I would like to say it is a great pelasure to play to all fans of Slade, and I look forward to seeing you all at our shows in Finland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Norway and all other countries, too. Keep on rockin - Dave Hill"

After the interview I soon went to the concert place, where the band had started the soundcheck and played mostly "The Bangin Man" with very tight guitars sounds and Steve Whalley picked some blues notes. After the soundcheck I got Slade members greetings to the RMNradio on the digi cameras movie clips.

The show time was at 22:30 and Slade certainly did warm up the cold winter night at Tampere. The audiences reception was very good from the very beginning and both the band and the audience looked very happy and satisfied for the one hour great rock n roll show and sounds. Slade played their usual set ending with two encores; "My Oh My" and "Born To Be Wild", and then it was over, though the audience was strongly demanding for more.

Ilpo Bister, Helsinki