Thu. Nov 21st, 2024
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SLADE’S song Merry Xmas Everybody has been a Christmas hit for generations and went straight to No1 when it was released.

The popular festive hit still rakes in six figure earnings every year.

Slade rose to prominence after their hit single 'Merry Xmas Everybody'5

Slade rose to prominence after their hit single ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’Credit: Getty
The group formed in 19665

The group formed in 1966Credit: Getty – Contributor

While the song is everywhere when the festive season rolls around, little was known about how the song came about until Noddy Holder spoke recently

Speaking to the Mirror about the inspiration behind the single, Noddy said: “I got it done in two or three hours; I just thought about everything that was to do with Christmas, a family Christmas.

“That brought back all the memories I had when I was a kid. All the lyrics were done in that one night, the middle eight and everything!”

He said the idea behind the track was to conjure up a song about a proper ‘working class Christmas’.”

Formed in Wolverhampton, Slade is a British rock band that achieved prominence in the 1970s.

Their top-selling single, Merry Xmas Everybody, has surpassed one million copies in sales.

Original members included, Noddy, Jim Lea, Don Powell and Dave Hill.

Noddy, the lead singer, has revealed that although the band members are no longer in communication, they collectively earn a substantial income from their 1973 chart-topping single, Merry Xmas Everybody.

The song still brings in approximately £500,000 annually.

Noddy said it initially began as a “hippy-trippy thing,” far from the renowned Christmas anthem it eventually became.

Noddy told the Mirror: “The song that became Merry Xmas Everybody was written in 1967.

“It was a hippy-trippy thing and the chorus went ‘So won’t you buy me a rocking chair to watch the world go by / Buy me a looking glass to look me in the eye-eye-eye.'”

The group broke off and Slade II was formed in 1992. The new band that included, Dave Hill, Don Powell, Craig Fenney, Steve Makin and Steve Whalley, went back to use the original band name in 2002.

Noddy recently endured a gruelling course of experimental chemotherapy and is doing so well he has returned to the stage.

In an emotional magazine article, his author wife, Suzan, revealed his diagnosis and credited his survival to his positive outlook.

She said of his pioneering treatment: “There were no guarantees, no one knew if it would have any effect, let alone work miracles, but he responded well.”

Noddy Holder said the song first began as a 'hippy thing'

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Noddy Holder said the song first began as a ‘hippy thing’Credit: PA
Original members included, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Don Powell and Dave Hill

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Original members included, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Don Powell and Dave HillCredit: Getty
Noddy was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer five years ago

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Noddy was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer five years agoCredit: PA

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