Slade's Merry Christmas

7:50am Sunday 18th November 2007

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Glam-rockers Slade front a festive show in Manchester tonight. Martin Hutchinson asks guitarist Dave Hill about their music's ongoing appeal - especially Merry Xmas Everybody . . .

CHRISTMAS is round the corner - so it is time for Slade.

The band that brought us Merry Xmas Everybody is the headline act at a festive show of the same name at Manchester Opera House tonight.

The Merry Xmas Everybody show was first staged 15 years ago with bands including cover band TRextasy, Mud and, of course, Slade.

TRextasy have the approval of Marc Bolan's son, Rolan, while Mud promise a catalogue of hits including Tiger Feet.

Of all the Christmas hits, Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody is the one we always think of first.

Slade had 23 Top 20 hits, including six number ones. Their hits, penned by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder, became the soundtrack of the glam rock years with Coz I Luv You, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Cum On Feel The Noize, Skweeze Me Pleeze Me and Far, Far Away among them.

Today's Slade is led by founders Dave Hill on guitar and drummer Don Powell, with ex-Mud bassist John Berry and ex-Sweet singer Mal McNulty, who has replaced Noddy Holder.

Dave Hill said. "Mal has a great voice and really does justice to the songs. We try to recreate the original sound and, to that end, our bassist even plays the violin."

Initially, when Slade recorded Merry Xmas Everybody, Dave had no idea just how special it would become.

He said. "It was recorded in July in New York, so it was difficult to tell what the impact of it would be.

"When winter arrived, I sensed a feeling for it was building. It was original and it spread like wildfire.

On tonight's gig, he said: "There is a special kind of magic in a concert like Merry Xmas Everybody. We all love the material - and the 1970s was a special time for many people."

He added: "We'll play all the hits - no prizes for guessing which one we finish with."

• Merry Xmas Everybody is at Manchester Opera House on Sunday. Tickets are £18.50 to £22.50. Call 0870 607 7471.