Slade

Although Slade had been around for several years, it was the explosion of glam rock in the early 1970s that powered their success. Beginning with "Coz I Luv You" and "Look Wot You Dun" (both 1971) they really hit their stride. And what strides! Tartan trousers, platform knee-boots, satin shirts and glitter gave the tough looking lads from Wolverhampton an extraordinary boost that took their stomping rock songs to the top of the charts, especially in their UK homeland. Glam threads and appalling spelling were an irresistible combination.

Two of their albums hit the #1 spot on the Australian album charts too: the epochal Slade Alive! and the hit-heavy Slayed. Despite the sing-along nudge-wink singles, Slade might have slipped into Seventies obscurity, except for the immortal seasonal favourite "Merry Xmas Everybody". Like all their hits, this anthem was written by singer Noddy Holder and bass player Jim Lea and is an annual reminder that Slade are not just for Christmas.