Bundle Drum Sheet & Drumless – Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody

“Merry Xmas Everybody” by Slade is one of the most iconic Christmas rock songs ever recorded — a festive anthem that captures both the joy and the chaos of the holidays. Released in 1973, it became an instant classic, topping the UK Singles Chart and returning to the charts almost every December since. For fans of Don Powell’s drumming, the song is a masterclass in steady, feel-good groove — festive yet powerful, with that unmistakable Slade energy driving every beat.

The story of “Merry Xmas Everybody” begins when Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, the band’s main songwriters, were looking to write something different — a song that would lift the nation’s spirits during Britain’s economic difficulties in the early ’70s. Jim Lea had been playing around with a melody inspired by a song they’d never used called “Buy Me a Rocking Chair.” Holder, meanwhile, remembered his mother saying she wished there were more positive songs about Christmas. So one night, while staying in his parents’ house in Wolverhampton, Holder famously shouted, “It’s Christmaaas!” — and the song’s signature line was born.

The band recorded “Merry Xmas Everybody” in New York City during a hot summer, of all times. They were finishing their album Old New Borrowed and Blue, and producer Chas Chandler (formerly of The Animals) encouraged them to release it as a single. The contrast of recording a Christmas song in a heatwave added a layer of humor to the process — the studio was reportedly decorated with tinsel and fake snow to help set the mood.

Drummer Don Powell, still recovering from a serious car accident earlier that year, delivered a remarkable performance behind the kit. His drumming is steady and driving, built on a fat snare and a thumping, four-on-the-floor kick that gives the track its irresistible stomp. The rhythm keeps the song grounded amid the festive chaos, pushing forward the singalong choruses and handclaps. Powell’s simple yet effective fills between verses provide just the right lift without overplaying — a hallmark of great rock drumming.

Live, “Merry Xmas Everybody” became a centerpiece of Slade’s shows, particularly during their legendary holiday tours in the UK and Europe. Audiences would sing every word, and Powell’s drums would thunder through the halls like sleigh bells made of rock and roll.

For drum fans, it’s a perfect reminder that groove and attitude can make a song timeless — and Don Powell’s beat is the true heartbeat of Christmas rock.