Black Country Mod band The Circles set for comeback gig reports the Dudley News

DUDLEY Mod Revival band The Circles are set to make a comeback - more than 35 years after their first single was released.  

The band reached number three in the independent charts in 1979 with their debut release Opening Up but had been inactive for 15 years following a reunion in 1999.  

However - a new wave of affection for the band was sparked with their inclusion on the ultimate Mod Revival box-set Millions Like Us in 2014 and has led to a reformation.  

Frontman Mick Walker was invited to perform a solo acoustic slot in his hometown at radio host Jacqui Carroll's Ready Steady GO!' Live event last November off the back of all the interest.  

And now, following requests for the band to play in Spain and Japan, The Circles are back and set to play at Fixxion Warehouse, Wolverhampton, on Saturday May 9.  

Fronted by 63-year-old Mick on lead vocals and guitar, the four-piece line-up now comprises Luke Weston on lead guitar, Jack Turley on drums and Roger Hudson on bass.  

Former label mates at Graduate Records with UB40 - The Circles (back then comprising Tony Howells, Keith Allen and Glenn Tranter) enjoyed a nationwide tour promoting their first single, which has stood the test of time and is covered by bands old and new to this day.  

For their second release Angry Voices, they switched from Graduate to Vertigo.  

The football-inspired number with anthemic chorus and frantic guitar riffs sold more than 20,000 copies and spawned another tour and interest from major label Chrysalis.  

But cracks began to appear in the band, who had played with the likes of UB40, Tom Robinson band, The Lambrettas and 17 (who went on to become The Alarm).  

And by 1981 - despite being on the cusp of fame - they had split, citing musical and financial differences.  

Nearly two decades later there was renewed interested in The Circles and in 1999 - the 20th anniversary of the Mod Revival - and the call went out for them to perform at the Mods May-Day reunion gig at The Forum in London with fellow Revival bands The Chords, Purple Hearts, Squire, Small World, The Killermeters and Rosko.  

Frontman Mick assembled his band - with Roger Hudson replacing original bassist Glenn Tranter - and The Circles won over a new legion of fans and were spurred on to hit the studio in August 2000 to record Looking Back, which saw new material interspersed with some reworked old favourites.  

Following the Detour Records release, the bandmates returned to their regular nine to five jobs and remained dormant until Cherry Red Records announced plans to include the band's much-loved debut single on the Millions Like Us box set.  

The comeback gig will include support from Sound AKA, Savannah UK and RTE Radio's DJ Jacqui Carroll.  

Tickets, priced £10 in advance, are available online from www.TheTicketsellers.co.uk For details of all the band's 2015 gigs go to www.Thecircles79.co.uk  www.facebook.com/thecircles79  or follow the band on Twitter @thecircles79