By Steve Cooke
Words written in 1973 resonate in our pandemic defined times – a need to be cheered up by have things to look forward to with our families and friends.
Words that are heard every Christmas throughout the length and breadth of our land.
‘Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you've got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell you
That the old songs are the best?
Then she's up and rock-'n'-rolling with the rest
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun’
When asked about why Slade had written a Christmas song Noddy Holder explained:
“We’d decided to write a Christmas song and I wanted to make it reflect a British family Christmas. Economically, the country was up the creek. The miners had been on strike, along with the gravediggers, the bakers and almost everybody else. I think people wanted something to cheer them up – and so did I”
Although after twenty-six years with Slade, Noddy Holder left in 1992, to pursue a career away from music, with regular stints as radio presenter, television personality, actor and voice-over artist, Slade are still performing.
Thought by many to be one of the most exciting bands to come out of Great Britain in the past 50 years. Slade's chart career has spanned 6 decades, and their enduring songs are still featured today in TV commercials for some of the World’s biggest companies.
Slade have continued to tour the world and undertake an annual UK "Merry Christmas Everybody" tour in December.
Led by founder member Dave Hill on Lead Guitar with John Berry who joined in 2003 on Lead Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar and Violin. John has also played Bass with Mud, The Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Tremeloes, Bay City Rollers & The Rubettes. Joining John on Lead Vocals and Keys is Russell Keefe, having played in many original bands in his early years, he has also recorded albums for Polygram & United Artists, Russell has toured with The Pretty Things and Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers, Alex Bines now joins on Drums, Alex has toured with Wilko Johnson, The Rubettes and is also a Drum teacher.
You can catch Slade in Manchester at O2 Ritz this December.
