Slade's DAVE HILL has announced his first solo album.
An autobiographical set of songs, Dirty Foot Lane features an array of styles, including rock, blues, folk and atmospheric soundscapes, marrying the energy of a Slade live show with more reflective moods.
Production on the album has been led by former bandmate Noddy Holder's son Django, while John Berry, bassist, vocalist and violinist in the Dave's current version of Slade plays a major role. “I’ve known John for over twenty years,” says Hill. “He’s incredibly talented, honest, and always gives you his very best. That’s invaluable.”
Two songs, 'Play It To The Crowd' and 'Back In The Air Again' were written during lockdown and reflect Hill's desire to get back onstage - “I wanted to recreate that feeling of walking into a packed arena—the energy, the buzz, the connection with the audience,” he explains - while 'Only Fools And Horses' and 'Fast Train' revisit the early days of Slade and their rapid rise to fame respectively.
The title track - which takes its name from an area close to Wolverhampton near where Hill grew up and still lives - represents the album's emotional centrepiece, blending folk and ambient elements. “It’s my story—my family, my home, my journey,” he says. “Everything connects back to that."
Set for release in October through Jerkin' Crocus, Dirty Foot Lane is available to pre-order here.
Pic by Anthony Keates