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So Here It Is by Dave Hill #BlogTour

At the risk of singing THAT song in October I couldn't resist the chance to read So Here It Is by Dave Hill, Slade's co-creator and guitar player. Hill is the one who wore the outfits, had the haircut and the platforms and still plays in the band (or a version of it) today.

The 70s is very much a hidden decade for me, it was the era of my parents and the parents of my husband who still groans when ELO come on the radio. Not being born until the 80s my knowledge of Slade was pretty much limited to THAT song and my standard answer to a 70s music question in a pub quiz was 'Mud' (it didn't yield me many points). I was therefore keen to learn more. What other songs did Slade sing? Where did the name come from? and was Slade even English?

Hill was brilliant at explaining all this and more. I particularly liked the opening chapters describing Hill's early life, he really captured what it was like to grow up in post war England. I didn't expect depression to be such a feature of the book and praise not only a rock legend but a bloke from Wolverhampton in his 70s for coming forward and talking about it. His mother's depression was particularly expertly written and I loved how Hill went at length to point out he did not blame his mother for her illness and the impact this had on him. 

As you would expect from a member of a 70s rock band Hill racked up many experiences over the years and many of them are included in the book. Yet despite the gold Rolls Royce and the Top of The Pops appearances it was the experience of buying a house that resonated with me the most. The worry as to whether you can afford it and the problems associated with moving up the social ladder are ones that we can all relate to, even if we aren't being mobbed by girls from the neighbouring school!

Many issues Hill touched upon in the book were relate-able, the importance he placed on putting his career first and missing out on his children growing up and how we only seem to realise this as we age was particularly poignant and something I know I have struggled with.

I think my knowledge of the 70s let me down slightly. Although well detailed, certain names were lost on me and I had to Google certain references. You Tube came in handy with the songs mentioned and it turns out I am familiar with quite a few of Slade's back catalogue!

Given that the only thing I knew of Slade beforehand was THAT song I was surprised how little So Here It Is featured in the book and actually liked how Hill handled it. The book demonstrates there was so much more to Slade's story than a Christmas hit and it was right that only a small part of the book was dedicated to it.

Being an autobiography a number of pictures are featured, there is a forward written by Noddy Holder and the paperback copy even includes an extra chapter. I'm really pleased I read it and was surprised how much I got out of it being a non Slade expert. I plan on passing it on to my father in law who is a fan and indeed it would make a brilliant Christmas present for lovers of that era. Only 67 days to go people!

My thanks go to Unbound via Anne Cater's Random Things Through My Letterbox website who provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.


Comments

  1. Thanks you so so much for this fabulous Blog Tour support x

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