THE VERVE - THE VERVE ANNOUNCE SECOND TOUR

THE VERVE ANNOUNCE SECOND TOUR

Reformed band the Verve have announced a second set of UK dates for their reunion tour.

The Wigan group announced in June 2007 that they were "getting back together for the joy of music", eight years after a bitter break-up.

A new album was announced as well as a set of six concerts at small venues such as the Glasgow Academy, London's Roundhouse and the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool.

However, tickets for these November shows were snapped up by eager fans in minutes, prompting today's announcement of a second string of gigs.

The Urban Hymns stars will perform at London's O2 Arena on December 13th, before gigs at Glasgow's SECC Centre, the Odyssey Arena in Belfast and Manchester Central.

Tickets for the new shows go on sale at 10:00 BST on Friday October 5th and fans must register on the band's official website in the next 24 hours to receive a unique password.

Though the band's huge success in 1997 with singles such as Bittersweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work prompted peers like Noel Gallagher to call the Verve "one of the most important bands in history", internal spats saw them split two years later.

Frontman Richard Ashcroft went on to release three solo albums, as well as performing with Coldplay at the Live 8 concert in 2005.

One-time guitarist Simon Tong will not be rejoining the band, as he is currently touring with Blur lead singer Damon Albarn and former Clash bassist Paul Simonon as the Good, the Bad & the Queen.