IT’S CHRISTMASSSS!
Slade are out on tour and heading for the region. Dave Hill, lead guitarist and founder member of Slade, chats with KEVIN COOPER first
THE tour Rockin’ Home For Christmas is on the road, do you enjoy being back out on the road here in the UK?
Yes, I always do at this time of the year, not only because of that Christmas song but because it is a time when Slade are a go-to band.
People are starting to think about Christmas, they are thinking of presents and all the rest of it, and of course Slade then become a hot pick thankfully, for people to come and see and enjoy.
Personally, I think that with all of the things that are currently going off within British politics, it is probably a bit of light relief to come out and see us.
Do you still get a buzz out of touring?
Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it touring; I would call them selected dates we are playing. I always enjoy playing in my own country of course. So, in answer to your question, yes, I still find what I do enjoyable otherwise I would call it a day.
We really must talk about that song [ Merry Xmas Everybody]. Do you ever tire of playing it?
No, not at all, how can you. It’s a bit like watching Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing Little Drummer Boy; certain things bring back certain memories at this time of year.
Fortunately, some songs are still as good as when you first recorded them, and they mean something to so many people.
They are very well connected, and Merry Xmas Everybody has not dated in its lyrics, which is great.
But I don’t just think of that song, I think of the whole package. What you must remember is that they always say that Slade are not just for Christmas. We have a life outside of the Christmas record, had several number ones, and of course it is about all those – Cum On Feel The Noize, Coz I Luv You, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Far Far Away, these are all very special songs. I really think that with Slade I am very fortunate to be able to play a long show where every single song that I play has been a hit.
I recently spoke to Don Powell and he was telling me that it is now written into your contracts that you must perform that song no matter where you are in the world and no matter what time of year it is. Is that correct?
Yes, Don’s totally correct in telling you that. Sometimes I will think to myself, ‘Why do you want to hear this in summer’ but I know why they want to hear it – it’s a hit record. It may be that the subject is Christmas, but the song itself is melodic, it contains very poignant lyrics, it’s a party song, and a feelgood song.
When the song was released, things here in the UK were bad, what with the strikes, three-day working week, power cuts, and everything else that was going on. But I feel, and I have always felt that we somehow managed to lift the spirit of the nation with that song.
And I think that now, this current lot have once again ruined everyone’s Christmas by announcing a general election in the period leading up to Christmas.
Have you heard Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum’s version of Merry Xmas Everybody?
Should I? Robbie has been doing a lot of things with a swing, hasn’t he. In my opinion, Jamie Cullum is a total joker. If he loves the song, then why not.
Would you and Don ever record a newer version?
You know what, that would be like saying to Sir Paul McCartney ‘would you ever think about recording a newer version of Yesterday?’ or asking Nat King Cole to record a new version of The Christmas Song.
Having said all of that, nobody – and I mean nobody – will ever do it better than we did. They will have a laugh with it, but they will never have a hit with it. I’ve not heard Robbie and Jamie’s version, but I will take that as a compliment.
You mention people having fun with your music, how did you feel when Vic Reeves And Bob Mortimer did their spoof, Slade On Holiday?
It was great, absolutely great. It was a nice compliment like it is when people cover one of your songs, but they really were hilarious; it was really funny. We had been told they were going to do it, and to this day, I think it is hilarious.
You have known Don for 56 years, which is longer than most marriages last. Do the two of you ever argue?
Yes. Not in a nasty way but yes, we argue sometimes but it is always in a constructive way. Sometimes we disagree with each other, but I think that is a part of a healthy marriage. The fortunate thing for me is that I
have a good wife who I met before we were famous, so she probably has a lot to do with it plus I have really great kids too. So, I am happy with that.
Do you have a favourite Slade song?
I have always loved How Does It Feel. It was never a big hit but was a great song. I also like My Oh My which was during our 80s period. That wasn’t a massive hit either here in the UK, but it was in other countries around the world.
How Does It Feel is a very good song and much liked, but I have to say that Cum On Feel The Noize, in my opinion, really does say it all about Slade. It’s a terrific record, and Quiet Riot had a hit with it over in America, but it wasn’t anywhere near as good as ours. That song epitomises everything that we were doing; being noisy, singing along, and having a good time.
Whose idea was it to misspell the titles of the songs?
That is a dialect in the Midlands that we used where you are writing the word as it sounds. So, if someone is saying “ome” they are actually talking about “home”. It’s what the kids would use at school whenever they were writing messages to one another. It is almost like a very early texting.
Back in 1992 when Noddy Holder said he was leaving Slade, which ultimately led to Jim Lea leaving too, was there ever a time when you and Don thought that’s it, this really is the end?
I was concerned; of course I was, not knowing what the hell I was going to do with myself. Don and I going out on the road under another name was never going to be an option. I had played the pubs and the one sure thing to come out of it was that I was going to miss the life for sure.
Fortunately, a chap got hold of me, it was Len Tuckey who as you will know was in The Nashville Teens, and later was lead guitarist for Suzi Quatro, who he later married, and he asked me what I was doing.
I told him I was thinking of forming a band to which he replied, “You shouldn’t be forming a band, you should be going out as Slade”.
He said “Everybody knows you, and if the other two don’t want to do it, then that shouldn’t mean that you don’t”.
After that, I asked Don if he would like to be involved in this idea, he did and off we went. And, to be totally honest with you, Don and I have had some magical years. So, the good news is that I got through it.
What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?
That’s easy, being alive and being in a job that I love. That’s what I would say. Of course, I have family and things like that but there have been many shows that I would consider to be highlights.
We are still to this day playing to thousands and thousands of people every time that we go out onto the stage. Every night is different, but in most cases it is good. And, as I say, while I still enjoy it, then I will continue to do it.
Noddy has kept his mirrored hat from back in the day. Have you kept anything?
No, and what’s the point, I wouldn’t be able to get into any of it. You will never see me in those platform shoes ever again. They are best kept in the loft.
What would be Dave Hill’s ideal Christmas?
I think that this might be an ideal Christmas for everybody – to be with those that you love and enjoy being together.
■Slade are playing O2 Institute2 Birmingham on Sunday, December 22, 2019. www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham/events/month