GLASGOW VISIT
Dave Hill heads for SWG3
SLADE star Dave Hill has never shied away from daring outfit choices – except when it comes to wearing a kilt.
The musician confessed that he always wanted to wear the traditional Scottish dress as a child – but never got round to it despite showcasing unforgettable flamboyant outfits in Slade.
“When I was a kid, I always wanted to buy a kilt,” he beamed. “I know it is a tradition and all part of the past.
“We used to go up to Scotland to visit a relation in Dundee and there were all these kilts.
“My dad said, ‘Do you realise how much that costs?’
“I never did get one,” he laughed.
The star, 73, might just get a chance to explore his inner Scotsman when he visits the city next month to perform with Slade as part of The Rockin’ Home for Christmas tour.
Having played iconic Glasgow venues in the past such as the Apollo, they will now be taking their show to SWG3 on December 17.
“Coming to Glasgow has always been something special to me,” he said with a smile in his voice.
He laughed: “I always remember staying in a dodgy bed and breakfast on Bath Street, and the Scotsman (who owned it) said, ‘Are you in a band? There is one rule, no birds’
“It was so funny. I will always remember it.”
The band, now without former frontman Noddy Holder, has sustained a career for more than five decades with hits Cum On Feel The Noize and Coz I Luv You propelling them into rock ’n’ roll history. Today, Dave continues to perform Slade’s music around the world, a task which appears to be an easy feat considering how successful the band has been.
He said: “The show that we will do is based on all those really big songs. I can play for an hour and 15 minutes and there isn’t one song which is either a number one or a top 20 hit.
“I have so much to choose from because we had hits in the 80s as well, you see.”
Dave has also promised fans he will continue to show off his stylish side on stage – except these days you are more likely to find him looking for outfit inspiration in the store of a popular High Street retailer. “I shop in Zara,” he said.
“I can find glitzy things In Zara, it is a good shop.
“In the early days, I had two people making my clothes because you couldn’t buy them, it was my ideas. Sometimes when I was young, I used to fiddle about buying the long frock coats women would wear.
“They were black and I would spray them silver and put moons on them. I had so much fun. I used to get car paint to spray these coats up against the door. One day I pulled away and there was an imprint on the door.
“My dad was like, ‘You stupid so and so, you should have gone outside and done it,” he chuckled.
Despite still being rock ’n’ roll about his image, Dave has made an effort to look after himself more on tour, especially after health scares in recent years, which included a stroke.
He said: “What I try to do on the road is I don’t drink.
“After a show within half an
‘‘ I always remember staying in a dodgy bed and breakfast on Bath Street