As Dave Hill’s Slade prepare to head out on their final UK tour this December — a run of O2 venues culminating at Manchester’s O2 Ritz on 22nd December.
We sat down with the glam-rock legend to talk legacy, songwriting, and what fans can expect from this last glittering celebration of one of Britain’s most iconic bands.
Dave, you’re about to embark on Slade’s Final Tour. How are you feeling as this chapter comes to a close?
It feels like the right moment. This December we’re hitting O2 venues across the UK for the last time, and it’s going to be a celebration from start to finish. We start in Hastings on 28th November and wrap up in Manchester on the 22nd. It’ll be emotional, but exciting.
Slade’s live shows are famously high-energy. What keeps that spark alive for you after almost sixty years on the road?
Honestly, I’ve never lost the thrill of it. If you get tired of travelling or think, “I don’t want to get on this plane,” that’s when you know it’s time to stop. I’ve never felt that. I’m still moving around the stage, climbing things, getting the crowd on their feet. It’s physical — but I love it.
You’ve said this tour is all about the memories. What does the setlist look like?
It’s a Christmas tour, so it has to be the hits. People don’t want brand-new songs for this run; they want the soundtrack of their lives. The Number Ones are there, the big eighties hits like My Oh My and Run Runaway, and of course, we finish with the Christmas song. You can’t not play it.
You’ve written three full albums of new material recently — but none of that will feature?
Not on this tour. I didn’t write the new stuff for commercial reasons; I did it for myself. But this run is about celebrating Slade’s history. Fans want the songs they grew up with.
Sons of the Seventies are joining you on these dates. What made them the right support act?
They capture the essence of the seventies really well — the feel, the sound, the spirit. It sets the mood perfectly for what we’re about to deliver.
Slade’s history stretches right back to 1966. What stands out to you when you look back across those decades?
So much. Leaving my office job because I knew the guitar was calling me. The Beatles showing me the direction I wanted to go in. Meeting Nod, Jim and Don — there was a natural bond there that shaped everything. Working with Chas Chandler was huge. Our first hit with Get Down and Get With It in ’71, and then Coz I Luv You hitting Number One… in ’73 we were probably the biggest band in the world. Those memories stay with you.
You’ve spoken a lot about the connection between Slade and the fans. What does that mean to you heading into this final tour?
It means everything. Audiences get up within seconds at our shows — and they don’t sit down again. There’s so much love for Slade, and I feel it every night we play. That’s why this tour is a celebration. It’s a thank-you.
Turning 80 next April and still performing physically demanding shows is remarkable. How do you do it?
Mindset and enjoyment. If you love what you do, the energy follows. I’ve always been active onstage — arms up, moving around, getting the crowd moving. It’s who I am.
Is there a sense of closure as you prepare to take this final bow?
Yes, but in the best way. I’m proud of what we achieved, proud of the people I worked with, and grateful for every fan who’s been part of the journey. This tour is our last big thank-you to them.
THE FINAL TOUR – LIVE DATES
NOVEMBER
28 – White Rock Theatre, Hastings
29 – Dreamland, Margate
DECEMBER
10 – Picturedrome, Holmfirth
12 – O2 Academy, Liverpool
14 – O2 Academy, Bournemouth
16 – O2 Academy, Oxford
17 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
19 – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
20 – O2 Academy2, Birmingham
22 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
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