Slade
Martin Cooper checks out the sound of Slade, who produced finely crafted glam-rock hits packed with catchy hooks and melodies.
Martin Cooper
Jim Lea, Dave Hill (with John Birch guitar) and Noddy Holder of Slade
PETE STILL / GETTY IMAGES
Slade can lay claim to one of the greatest accomplishments any band can hope achieve; with Merry Xmas Everybody they have a tune that a good proportion of the Earth’s population knows and can sing along to. Not to mention the ongoing royalties that accompany a tune that’s released every year and played almost constantly each Christmas. In fact, based on singles sales Slade is one of the most successful British bands of all time, and also the first group to achieve number one status with all three of their first self-penned singles - something even The Beatles didn’t manage.