Shame about Merry Xmas Everybody…

…..because I hope that’s not all Slade are remembered for. They were no one-hit novelty act, they were the biggest band in the country. Three chords of raw, guitar-based power. This was music from the streets, music for the masses. All the things that a few years later, punk would falsely claim to be. I heard this track last night when I went to see Rush, in which it briefly features as a soundtrack to James Hunt’s wild and “crazee” lifestyle. I’d forgotten how fantastic it was. Noddy Holder is widely adored, Dave Hill invented platform shoes so I’m afraid the ingredients are all there for a serious BBC documentary, re-appraising their work with Alan Yentob pretending that he was always a big fan. Oh God, let’s hope not.