Band mans up to create super-group (From Epsom Guardian)

The Manfreds to perform in Croydon

12:40pm Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in Freetime By Nick Hitchens

British R&B pioneers the Manfreds will celebrate 50 years of success with a huge 35-date UK tour.

Original Manfred Mann members will join the existing line-up in a spectacular seven-man supergroup, boasting 14 top 10 hits and three No 1s.

Paul Jones, Mike Hugg and Tom McGuinness, plus former member Mike d’Abo, are joined by Rob Townsend, Marcus Cliffe and Simon Currie for what promises to be a terrific occasion with both original singers on stage at once.

Lead singer Jones had hits in his own right, then went on to form the Blues Band and become an influential radio broadcaster.

McGuinness formed McGuinness Flint with ex-John Mayall drummer Hughie Flint, while Hugg went on to write hundreds of award-winning jingles plus the theme tunes to Up The Junction and The Likely Lads.

D’Abo, who replaced Jones in Manfred Mann, wrote some huge best sellers including Handbags And Gladrags and Build Me Up Buttercup as well as major soundtracks and jingles.

Townsend, Cliffe and Currie have all played with some of the biggest names in the industry carving their own successful solo careers.

Manfred Mann scored their first UK Top 10 in 1964 with 5-4-3-2-1 that became the signature tune for the popular music TV show Ready Steady Go.

Further hits followed with Do Wah Diddy, Sha La La and Pretty Flamingo. Almost 50 years later, the Manfreds are celebrating their remarkable longevity and will be able to reel off other hits such Fox on the Run and The Mighty Quinn.

The Manfreds; Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon; December 1, from 8pm; £22 to £24; call 020 8688 9291, visit www.fairfield.co.uk .