So Here It Is: The Autobiography

'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.

About the Author :
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.

Review :
‘Undeniably big of heart … The private tale of a lovable public Super Yob’ Planet Rock ‘A rock narrative without bluster or bravado’ New Statesman ‘An excellent look at a great career’ The Beat