DAVE Hill is in a chipper mood as we look ahead to Slade coming to Manchester on Sunday.

But then, you get the feeling that Dave is always in a good mood. The guitarist was part of the remarkable rise of a bunch of lads from the Midlands who became one of the biggest bands in the world in the Seventies.

Hit followed hit as Slade became almost omnipresent on Top of the Pops with millions tuning in every Thursday night just to see what outlandish outfit Dave would be wearing.

The band had a resurgence in the Eighties after a storming performance at the Reading Festival which won over the heavy rock crowd and although original members Noddy Holder and Jimmy Lea effectively left the band in 1992 Dave and drummer Don Powell continue to tour as Slade.

“It’s been quite a journey,” said Dave, his Wolverhampton accent as unmistakable as ever. “I’m 71 now and I’ve just finished writing my life story (So Here It Is was published last month) and I’m kind of pleased about everything.

“We’ve come a long way since 1964 when we first formed a group, went professional and I grew my hair because I wanted to look like one of the Beatles.”

Dave started to learn the guitar when he was 13 and was heavily influenced by the skiffle movement pioneered by Lonnie Donegan in the UK.

“We would listen to American rock and roll records too and then the British bands who developed their own style,” he said. “I was talking to Nod only the other day about what our strongest point is. Chas Chandler our manager told us once, ‘you have always been a great rock and roll band’ and I think that’s at the heart of all we have done.

“Even when we started off in pubs we always wanted to entertain people, that’s how we learned our craft.”

With their catchy choruses and mis-spelled song titles, Slade rose to prominence as glam rock swept the country. In part this was due to those outfits.

“Chas always encouraged us to be as good as we could be but to be ourselves,” said Dave. “He liked my guitar playing but he also encouraged me in my choice of outfits although to be honest I didn’t need much encouragement.

“When we went on Top Of The Pops, I never told the rest of the band what I was going to wear and I used to go into the toilets to change.”

Although the outfits were memorable, so too were the songs.

“We liked good melodies, that’s what people remember,” he said. “People know the songs and they have a lasting appeal.

“Even today people will smile when they see me because we entertained them.

“I had someone come up to me recently who said ‘I don’t want to bother you but I’d just like to thank you for making my youth great’. What a great compliment.”

With a show so close to Christmas it is inevitable THAT song crops up.

“Oh, the Christmas song,” laughed Dave. “It has had a life of its own. We can be playing a summer festival and people will still insist we play it so there’s a pretty good chance the red Santa hats will be out when we come to Manchester.

“But it’s not all about the Christmas song, we did have one or two other hits you know.

“Manchester will definitely be a fun night out. I might not quite be wearing platform shoes these days as I might not be able to walk in them, but I still move around a lot!”

Slade, Manchester Academy, Sunday, December 17. Details from 0161 832 1111 or www.manchesteracademy.net