‘You’re only as good as your last gig’ is a well-used phrase in music circles. After witnessing one of the few remaining ‘glam’ giants being put through his paces, it seems Dave Hill’s Slade still has a lot to offer their loyal fans…
ENGINE ROOMS (SOUTHAMPTON) REVIEW By Ian Woolley
When Slade anniversaries come around these days, it seems to happen in threes. 60 years since Dave Hill first got involved seriously in music, 50 years since Slade dominated the UK charts with three No.1’s (including their festive offering), and 30 years since their charismatic and unmistakable lead singer Noddy and Jim Lea decided to call it a day in 1992.
Supporting them on this current tour is Sons Of The Seventies, a four-piece rock group whose repertoire and ear-splitting vocals included Rainbow, Eagles and other ’70s rock classics. Kicking off with a T.Rex favorite, the perfect seventies foil for what was to come after the interval.
Dave Hill
At 77 years old, original lead guitarist Dave Hill doesn’t hold back on his extrovert stage presence but then again he never has. A long draped sequined jacket topped off by a black hat and his familiar platform boots are now replaced by more practical trainers. Still in eye-catching silver of course. He whips up the crowd as they launch into their first number.
Berry swopped his guitar for violin on “Coz I Love You”.
Noddy had one of the most recognisable voices in pop and I was apprehensive to say the least as to how his replacement John Berry would be. I needn’t have worried as all the songs he sang lead with delivered with the same raw gruffness that made the songs so memorable the first time around. John has also played bass with Mud, The Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Tremeloes, Bay City Rollers & The Rubettes.
Joining John on Lead Vocals and Keys is Russell Keefe, having played in many original bands in his early years, he has also recorded albums for Polygram & United Artists, Russell has toured with The Pretty Things and Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers, Alex Bines now joins on Drums, Alex has toured with Wilko Johnson and The Rubettes.
With a back catalogue so vast (all their songs were big hits), it’s a packed full set and Dave Hill was everywhere. Be that standing on a speaker or jamming with Berry, the receptive crowd lapped up every chord. Russell Keaffe sang lead on the slower-tempo songs with Alex Bines drumming keeping everything together.
The crowd was a mixture of young and old, many of whom would not have been there first time around.
“These were the songs that I was brought up on by my parents”, one twenty-something told me beforehand.
The merch stand was doing a roaring business in between the performances with a constant flow of band t-shirts and other Slade-related products on sale.
Hill’s beloved iconic John Birch ‘Superyob’ guitar made its encore appearance on “My Oh My” and “Cum On Feel The Noize” capping an uplifting joyous gig with “Merry Christmas Everybody” had the festively dressed packed house singing word for word.
Hard to believe that it was 50 years ago that it first dominated the Christmas charts of 1973.
Recently Dave told me “Whilst I still find joy in it, and while I still feel there is a massive audience out there. Whether that be 5000 or even 20, it exists because people love the past”.
Judging by the Engine Rooms crowd tonight, it also exists because people love Slade. Noddy, look wot you dun!
Slade 2023 tour dates
The 2023 Slade tour is at Margate tonight (21st) with Oxford (22nd) and finishing in their spiritual home city of Birmingham on 23rd December. For tickets, if still available, go to www.davehillslade.com/tour-dates