Noel Gallagher told Dave that if it wasn’t for seeing Slade on Top of the Pops when he was a working class kid growing up in Manchester he’d never have inspired to pick up a guitar
Slade guitarist Dave Hill says the world has his band to thank for Oasis.
The glam rockers gave us festive anthem Merry Xmas Everybody and Dave, 79, says they also are responsible for Liam and Noel Gallagher coming together to form the Britpop group.
The musician has become friends with Noel, 58, and the Wonderwall hitmaker told Dave that if it wasn’t for seeing Slade on Top of the Pops when he was a working class kid growing up in Manchester he’d never have inspired to pick up a guitar and eventually form a band. Dave said: “Slade were a working class rock band that live in council houses and that’s why Noel Gallagher likes us.
“Noel says, ‘No Slade, no Oasis.’ He saw us on Top of the Pops and thought if a bunch of council house kids can make it we can, so he and his brother formed a band.
“He cites us as the reason he formed the band. He was looking for something like I was.”
Dave was personally invited to go and see Oasis at Wembley stadium in the summer and the two guitar legends hung out backstage before the show. In all his decades being involved in the music business, Dave insists Noel – who covered Slade’s hit Cum On Feel The Noize in Oasis – is one of the nicest guys he’s ever met.
Dave said: “I saw Noel before the gig. Noel is a lovely person I like being with him. He’s complimentary and he has that look on his face when we speak. It’s like me meeting Paul McCartney or George Harrison, I have that feeling inside of me of how much I loved them and I know he thinks that of Slade.
“When you know Noel he’s a true guy.”
Dave – who still tours as Slade but without the other three original members, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea and Don Powell – was blown away by how great Liam and Noel were at their reunion show.
He said: “It was so good. When I saw them I thought Liam and Noel’s singing was absolutely brilliant. Liam sounded really good. Noel is a great guitarist and a great singer as well. I had never seen Oasis before.”
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