In 2005 David Bowie went on record in interviews with several Conde Naste publications including Vanity Fair as saying Hill's band Louis XIV was his "favorite new band" and in 2006 Hill teamed up with David Bowie and Alicia Keyes for a charity event for Keep a Child Alive at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. This would be Bowie's final ever live concert appearance.
In 2005, Mr. Hill was named as one of Guitar Players top ten new guitar players. Also in Spin, NME and Rolling Stone magazines pronounced his band Louis XIV as the among the top ten new bands of 2005.