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Dave HillBritish musician, lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the British rock band Slade.
Date of Birth: 04.04.1946
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Dave Hill
- Early Musical Career
- Formation of Slade
- Musical Style and Fame
- Post-Slade Projects
- Slade II
- Personal Life
Biography of Dave Hill
Dave Hill is a British musician, lead guitarist, and backing vocalist of the British rock band Slade. He was born in Devon, in a mechanic's family, and when he was one year old, his family moved to Penn, Wolverhampton. Dave attended Springdale Primary School and Highfields Secondary School in Wolverhampton.
Early Musical Career
Dave ordered his first guitar through a mail-order catalog and taught himself to play right-handed because he couldn't afford a left-handed guitar. His first guitar lessons were given by his school chemistry teacher. Dave formed the school band "The Young Ones" and after finishing school, he worked in the office of the company "Tarmacor" for two years.
Formation of Slade
Dave Hill met drummer Don Powell in the band "The Vendors" and later they formed the group "'N Betweens" by inviting bassist Jimmy Lea and vocalist Noddy Holder. Thus, the group "Slade" was born, which went down in history. Like all glam rockers, "Slade" created vibrant stage images, and Dave Hill, in particular, stood out as the main clown in the band. His eccentric costumes led to some disputes with the more serious Jim Lea. Once, before filming a clip for the BBC's "Top of the Pops," Lea made a remark to Hill in the dressing room, and Hill replied, "You write the songs, Jim, and I'll sell them!"
Musical Style and Fame
Music critic Stuart Maconie described Hill as someone who "wore foil jumpsuits you wrap turkeys in and platform shoes the height of oil rigs. But all this paled in comparison to his hairstyle - something like an idiotic tonsure with a massive fringe. He looked like a glam rock version of a medieval monk." (S. Maconie, Cider With Roadies, 2004). Hill's most famous guitar was the 1973 "John Birch Superyob," which was played by Madness guitarist Chris Foreman in the music video for the song "Shut Up." It is currently owned by Marco Pirroni of the band "Adam and the Ants."
Post-Slade Projects
In 1989, Hill created a side project called "Blessings in Disguise" with Noddy Holder, former keyboardist from "Wizzard" Bill Hunt, Craig Fenney, and Bob Lamb. Their debut single, released on Christmas 1989, was a cover of the Everly Brothers' song "Crying in the Rain," with Hill and Hunt's composition "Wild Nights" on the B-side. The group also recorded a cover of Elvis Presley's song "A Fool Such As I," but it was never released. Their last single, "Chance to Be," was written by Daniel Summers and Colin Baines and, unlike the first single, was performed by a relatively unknown female vocalist. The B-side featured Hill's song "You're the Reason that I'm Strong," performed by former "Shakatak" vocalist Norma Lewis. The single was released in 1990, with the proceeds going to the Queen Alexandra College for the Blind in Birmingham.
Slade II
"Slade" disbanded in 1991, but Hill continued working with Don Powell. Until 1997, their new band, featuring vocalist Steve Whalley and bassist Craig Fenney, was called "Slade II," and later they shortened the name to "Slade." The group released the album "Keep on Rockin'," later reissued under the names "Superyob" and "Cum On Let's Party!" The band continues to perform with the old "Slade" repertoire.
Personal Life
In the 1970s, Dave dated various groupies such as Sable Starr, Lori Maddox, Queenie Glam, and Geraldine Edwards. In 2002, he mentioned in an interview that in 1975, he invited Geraldine to the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel and held a three-day party at the Sunset Marquis Hotel to celebrate her graduation.
Dave Hill currently lives in Lower Penn, Staffordshire, with his wife Jan. They have three children named Jade, Bibi, and Sam. They have embraced the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. Hill occasionally gives music lessons at Lower Penn and Penn Hall schools.
