Merry Christmas everybody! Slade star Dave Hill launches festivities at IKEA Wednesbury
Slade legend Dave Hill, who plays on the perennial hit Merry Christmas Everybody, opened festivities early at the giant IKEA store in Wednesbury.
The 72-year-old guitarist, nicknamed Superyob, was also helping to raise funds for the Wolverhampton-based Promise Dreams charity when he cut the ribbon at the Christmas shop on September 28.
Shoppers were able to pull a cracker with Dave for a donation and he also judged a Christmas tree dressing competition as part of the fun.
WATCH: Merry Christmas everybody!
The winner of a tree decorating competition was Slade fan Susan Peters from Willenhall who told him: "It's hilarious – I don't do this at home."
The star, who lives in Lower Penn, also signed autographs and had selfies taken with fans and spoke of his happy memories of Christmas in the Black Country.
"I've never lost the love of Christmas. I have a lot of fond memories of Christmas on the council estate and the people who live there. It was always a special time of togetherness of families – that's what i really like," he said.
Ali Breakwell, community fundraiser for Promise Dreams, said: "We got a message from him after the event to say he believes in ev erything we do and if we need him in future he will be there like a shot."
Slade, which also still features founder drummer Don Powell, will be playing their annual Christmas show at The Robin 2 in Bilston on December 20.
He promised fans that they would be playing "that certain song" at the concert , which is expected to sell out.
