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!

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.

If you were growing up in the 70’s it was hard not to notice the glam and glitter of Dave Hill and Slade. Slade had 17 consecutive top 20 hits and 6 number 1’s, 3 of which entered straight into the top spot. Lifetime record sales are thought to exceed 50 million, making them one of the UK’s most successful bands ever. Even more remarkable is that Hill – now 71 – has been gigging for over 50 years with drummer Don Powell, and that the rebooted Slade with them at it’s core has been going as long as the “classic” Holder / Hill / Lea / Powell line up.

Hill is the 3rd of the originals to tell their story, some 18 years after Holder first told his. Hill has published his via book crowdfunding site Unbound which must have given Dave a lot more control over what’s in the book – which turns out to be mixed blessing.

The positives are that Hill gets to tell the story his way, and in his own voice (he was helped by Dave Bowler, a Midlands based writer). There’s no sensationalism and an agreeable matter of fact approach which most of the time makes it an engaging and enjoyable read. He loves playing and performing and is remarkably unpretentious about his “art”, coming across as a down to earth bloke who has put what life has thrown at him into perspective.

The downside is the lack of editorial discipline. Writing the book obviously put Hill in a frame of mind to take stock of his life, and whilst factors like your mother’s mental illness would play an important part in anyone’s life story, he keeps returning to the issue and stories like his mother’s attendance at the premier of “In Flame” are repeated. Although intended as a summary of Hill’s thoughts on his life, the final chapter rehashes a lot of was said in the early parts of the book and would have benefited from a bit more red pen. Being invited to play a gig in the Falklands is related in more length than making “In Flame” or indeed any aspect of the post classic band line up era. The lack of insight to things like the breakup of the original band, or the comings and goings from the “new” Slade line-ups, left me feeling that the book lacked depth. Not much dirt is dished, so if anything happened on the road it’s stayed there.

On stage Slade were a highly effective quartet. Off stage things were less balanced, heavily reliant on the songwriting of Holder and Lea and Holder’s distinctive voice. Hill, always interested in how he looked and what he wore, describes his contribution as the “entertainer”. Whatever Jim and Nod served up he took out and sold it, a full on showman in the metal nun outfit. There’s a slight sense that Hill thinks his overall contribution hasn’t always been properly valued. Having explained how he got married in secret to avoid upsetting the band’s fans it’s hard not to be sympathetic.

The differences in earnings that songwriting generates have done for many bands once that initial rush of success is supplanted by flash cars and house, wives and children. The imbalance within Slade isn’t directly discussed – there’s one passing reference to Hill and Powell getting a bollocking from management for “not pulling their weight” when the hits dry up. The pressure on Holder and Lea must have been considerable, as well as the financial returns so much greater. Hill argues that alongside not really wanting to write, he didn’t see the point given just how successful at it Holder and Lea were (or had been). A subsequent brief mention of getting a fairer deal once Chas Chandler steps down as manager suggests it may well have been a source of discontent but – perhaps a little disappointingly for the casual reader – Hill is letting bygones be bygones. Holder’s foreword provides clues acknowledging that Hill “is incredibly loyal, and protects the privacy of the Slade background and behavior fiercely” although they’ve “not always seen eye to eye” since Noddy left the band in 1991.

Hill relates how Slade were knocked hard by illness and plain bad timing with both Powell and Lea laid low when the band were on the cusp of breakthroughs. He also describes how he overcame an onstage stroke – and I think he sells himself short here in terms of the challenge he overcame to return to playing live again. Add to that getting knocked down in the street and a sustained period of depression, it’s’ a testimony to his drive and determination that he’s still gigging, playing the hits and entertaining. Long may it continue.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing journey of life in a band called slade and how it all began

what a journey, a fun read with sad bits but on the whole enjoyable..the surprise factor for me and what made me laugh out loud was when daves house was broken into and later found out to be donny osmond fans..as they had put a poster of donny up in the treehouse/den outside and then rang and apologised for breaking in...

a must read for fans of slade and also for anyone of a certain age that grew up in the 70s as this gives an insight into how life was and how it all came about

If you loved Slade in the 70's then you will love this.
A brilliant insight into one of the best bands ever.

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.

Noddy Holder has written a couple of books and drummer Don Powell has published his memoir, now it is the turn of guitarist Dave Hill.

Dave Hill was born in a castle in Devon, the son of a mechanic, and moved back with his parents to Wolverhampton when he was a year old. Much of the book involves his family and the facts he uncovered about that including that his parents weren’t married for their early years and how his mum’s depression impacted on the family. He touches upon this throughout the book, including how he didn’t cry when his mum died, and is very open and honest about how his mum affected and shaped his life. His wife Jan, who he married in 1973, remained his rock throughout the trails of life, be it with Slade or more personal aspects of his life.

Slade fans will be interested to read about the band’s origins as Dave Hill originally played with drummer Don Powell in a band called The Vendors, which became the The N' Betweens. When Jim Lea and singer Noddy Holder later joined, the band renamed itself Slade, after an album came out under the Ambrose Slade name. In the 1970s, Slade were the biggest band in the UK, racking up 23 Top 20 hits, including six number one singles. That is some achievement and of course their Christmas single ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, still makes the singles charts every Christmas season.

There isn’t much in the way of rock ‘n’ roll tales about other band members as they didn’t seem to socialise much on the road. The Reading comeback is covered, along with their failed attempt to break the US market – something hat nearly broke the band. The mid-80’s to early 90’s period doesn’t get covered much, mainly as the band had stopped touring and when Noddy Holder left the band in 1992, Jim lea also retired from the band. Hill and Powell formed Slade II in 1992, which again isn’t touched upon much in the book, and that band’s current line-up has bene together and touring since 2005. This line-up have released one studio album to date (much of the album was written by Hill and former Wizzard member Bill Hunt).

Recommend read for the band’s many fans as you get to see behind the showmanship, and at times outrageous costumes, of Dave Hill. Frank and honest about his own personal life, plus he still keeps the band’s music alive by still touring today as Slade II with fellow founder member Don Powell.

I suppose if you read a book about a rock 'n roll icon, who has a reputation for being a being a bit different, you may be expecting some wacky stories. The opposite is true. Dave comes across as a nice guy and consequently what you get is a nice little story about an iconic group. Easy read if rather unadventurous.

If you liked Slade, who rattled out a number of hits in the 1970s this book gives you an authentic feel for what that sort of life was like. It is not high art, you feel that Dave the author is chatting away with a beer at his side - very colloquial style, but that seems appropriate for the subject matter. Some of the details are telling. Dave spent a chunk of his first wedge on a gold Rolls Royce with the registration YOB1. When the crowds began to thin, it had to be sold.

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.

I have to admit that I didn’t really like Slade very much in their heyday - it’s taken me about 40 years to appreciate how good they actually were - and so I was interested to read Dave Hill’s biography in the role of someone who wasn’t strictly a fan and who didn’t know a lot about the band.

It is a great read - entertaining and good humoured - and Mr Hill comes across as a well adjusted rock survivor and a decent human being. I will be paying him a lot more attention in future when watching re-runs of Top of the Pops and other 70’s music shows.

Many thanks to Mr Hill, to Unbound and to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

I grew up with Slade and the Glam rock scene and loved it all, all the flamboyancy of the clothes and performers, so it was great to read Dave Hill's autobiography as it brought it all back.
Dave comes over as a very down to earth person, he writes honestly about his mother's illness and his own, and he's a very family orientated guy.
It's nice to read a 'celebrity autobiography' by someone who doesn't seem to be affected by the fame.
Highly recommend.

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 band as original singer Noddy Holder. This gregarious and outgoing aspect of his 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 band 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 reading.

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

This is a great look at the history of one of Rock n Rolls greatest treasures. Foot stomping, clapping, and platform boots!