Slade's Dave Hill interview: 50 years of 'Merry Xmas Everybody' and how John Lennon helped make it
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Published 2023-12-04
In 1973, Slade scored the Christmas number one with the festive anthem. And Christmas isn't really Christmas until Noddy Holder shouts "IT'S CHRISTMAS!".
The song sold by the bucketload, and 50 years on it remains one of the UK's best-loved Christmas songs.
To mark the occasion, Gold caught up with Slade legend Dave Hill. Dave spoke to James Bassam about the making of the song, its enduring legacy and how John Lennon was involved in its recording.
Dave also spoke to James about Slade's friendly rivalry with Roy Wood's Wizzard - who also released 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' the same year.
All Comments (21)
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Great man, great band, one of my favourites of all time. Thanks Slade for the music and memories!
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That's one of the special things about Slade, its all about having a good time with great music. They aren't stuck up, their mission is for the crowd to have a great time. Thanks Dave for a life time of joy.
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Dave Hill is such a lovely down to earth man after all he’s achieved , great interview 👍
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Merry Xmas Everybody will always be the best Christmas song and the 60's and 70's will always be the best music.
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What a sweet soul.
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I remember walking to school singing Cum on feel the at the top of my voice whilst walking to school in 1973. Happy memories! 🙂
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I love any one of the original four being interviewed, they all have great stories to tell.
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John Lennon's harmonium and cancelled studio time. Who knew? This is a fantastic interview by James Bassam. Love Slade.
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Nice to see Dave looking so well. I was a huge fan back in the 1970's. Saw them live a few times.
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I use to have Slade posters all over my bedroom wall back in the early 70s, i was a big fan, got really excited when they were going to release another record, nice to know Dave is happy and doing well.
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Lovely fella. Still happy to discuss the song after 50 years with enthusiasm. I’m old enough to remember the songs first performance on TOTP in 1973 😎🎶
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Great to hear this straight after Noddy's long interview on Radio Merseyside...
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What a lovely bloke...and hey it ain't Christmas till nod says it is!!! Slade best and ever!
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Dave Hill - one of the greatest people whoever lived. This is why we love SLADE.
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An absolute legend I was lucky enough to have been at the Earlscourt concert it was Brilliant.
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Mit dem vielen Glitter und Glimmer auf der Stirn sah Dave Hill so toll aus
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I was 10 in 1973 my mum bought the single, I remember watching Slade on top of the pops singing it. my mum used to say what's Dave wearing today 😆
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We hear Merry Christmas down under and it is stinking hot, we love it, we loved Slade, still do. Mr Hill, thankyou for all your music, Slade were a huge part of our teenage years. I was 15 when I saw you blokes at the Melbourne Showgrounds on February 4 th 1973, you were my silver god, I had glitter in my hair, I loved your clothes, cutest hair cut, and your platform boots were amazing. Thankyou Dave, Thankyou Slade, the world is a better place with Slade being on it, well for a 15 year old kid from working class suburban Melbourne it was. Love ya Dave, I won’t ever forget you. If you are ever back in Melbourne, I’ll be there. 🇦🇺😘🥰🇦🇺
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A proper down to earth guy, And yes we’re all still listening to the Christmas Hits, that what I’ve been brought up to, I’m a 70s kid👍🏻
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I was lucky to be 14 years old when “Merry Xmas Everybody” was released. My favourite Slade song is “Everyday”
