Reformed Happy Mondays announce UK tour with original line-up

Happy Mondays have announced details of a UK tour this May.

The Madchester legends, who had confirmed that they would be reuniting with their original line-up yesterday (January 29), will play 11 dates including a homecoming show at Manchester Evening News Arena, with support coming from Inspiral Carpets.

The run begins at Newcastle's O2 Academy on May 3 and will include two shows at London's O2 Academy Brixton on May 10 and 11, before coming to an end at Nottingham Rock City on May 18.

Speaking about the band's reunion and forthcoming tour, frontman Shaun Ryder said: "We all met up last week and some of the lads haven't seen each other in over 10, 15 years. It's as if we've never been apart – so good to all be in the same room again. We can't wait now to get on tour and play the songs that made us famous."

Rumours of a Happy Mondays reunion first circulated in early December, when a report claimed that they were set to reform for a full tour and documentary in 2012.

A representative for the band told NME that the group had no immediate plans to reform, but backing singer Rowetta Satchell confirmed yesterday that the group's original line up would be getting back together to play a month-long tour.

Happy Mondays will play:

O2 Academy Newcastle (May 3)
O2 Academy Glasgow (4)
Manchester Evening News Arena (5)
O2 Academy Sheffield (6)
O2 Academy Bournemouth 9)
O2 Academy Brixton (10, 11)
O2 Academy Birmingham (12)
Dublin Olympia (15)
O2 Academy Leeds (17)
Nottingham Rock City (18)