The Struts’ Luke Spiller Offers Stripped-Down Take on Christmas Classic ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’
A melancholic reimagining of Slade’s beloved festive anthem arrives as a wave of artists release new holiday music, vying for the coveted Christmas Number One spot.
The Struts frontman Luke Spiller has unveiled his unique cover of Slade’s iconic Christmas song, ‘Merry Xmas Everybody.’ Departing from the original’s upbeat energy, Spiller’s version is described as more “stripped-back and mournful,” offering a fresh perspective on the 1973 chart-topper – which was recently certified double platinum in 2021 following repeated returns to the charts during the holiday season.
The release is accompanied by a visually striking music video featuring Spiller donning a Santa hat while traversing the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River. According to Spiller, the song holds a special place in his heart. “Like so many of us, I have always loved Christmas,” he shared. “For me personally, it’s a time where I often travel back to the United Kingdom and spend quality time with my family after a long year of touring and seeing the world.”
He continued, explaining his artistic choice, “I grew up listening to this song and have such great memories being surrounded by the people I love celebrating the year coming to a close. I wanted to put my own spin on this classic and decided to strip back the music so people can really focus on the lyrics.” Spiller also expressed his deep respect for Slade, calling them an “incredible band” and a “huge influence” and stating his desire to “do it justice.”
Spiller is not alone in revisiting the Slade classic this year. Anne-Marie released her own rendition of ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ last month, joining a long list of artists who have previously covered the song, including Oasis, Suzanne Vega, and Steps. Past interpretations also include a 2019 duet by Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum, featured on Williams’ album ‘The Christmas Present,’ and a version on Girls Aloud’s ‘Christmas ‘Round At Ours’ album, originally released in 2005 and recently reissued on CD and vinyl.
The holiday season has spurred a flurry of new music releases, both original compositions and covers. Kylie Minogue is set to release an expanded version of her 2015 Christmas album, ‘Kylie Christmas (Fully Unwrapped),’ on December 5, featuring four new tracks including the single ‘XMAS.’ Olly Murs has collaborated with The Ordinary Boys on ‘Christmas Starts Tonight,’ while The Coral debuted their “cursed carol,” ‘She Died On Christmas Day,’ earlier this week. Leon Bridges has shared two Christmas songs this year, one featuring Norah Jones, and Laufey recently released her cover of ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ as part of her ‘A Very Laufey Holiday’ project. Other festive releases include Home Counties’ ‘Better Last Year (Home Counties For Christmas)’ and a Christmas song reportedly penned by Kings Of Leon, though the band has suggested it might be “too Christmassy” for release.
The race for the Christmas Number One is heating up, with contenders including Together For Palestine and their charity single ‘Lullaby,’ McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Paddington with ‘One Of Us,’ and enduring favorites like Wham! – last year’s chart-topper – and Mariah Carey.
Spiller’s foray into solo work continues following the release of his debut album, ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine,’ in April. His band, The Struts, last released an album, ‘Pretty Vicious,’ in 2023.
