Manchester, England, Nov 29: The hard-rocking Slade hit "Merry Xmas Everybody" will be heard no more at Manchester airport after it was panned in a survey of travellers' Yuletide tastes.
"Forty percent of people said they did not want to hear it," an airport spokesman said Wednesday, "and so we took the decision to drop it from our playlist."

Slade's lead singer Noddy Holder lives in the Manchester area, but the spokesman said: "I hope he won't be offended. It's not that we don't like the song. It has just been a little bit overplayed."

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Manchester airport, in the north of England, will keep playing other festive classics, including "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," by Roy Wood and Wizzard, and "Last Christmas" by Wham!

"Merry Xmas Everybody" came out in 1973, when Slade was riding high in the British pop and rock charts. It was re-recorded in 1980, after which it charted for seven straight years.

Slade, also known for such hits as "Cum On Feel the Noize", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me," last performed together in February 1982, when its glam-rock style was overtaken by punk and new wave. Bureau Report