THE legendary pop band ABC will perform as special guests at Tears for Fears’ Chester-le-Street concert this summer, it has been revealed.

The band, led by charismatic singer Martin Fry, will be bringing their most popular hits to the stage at Emirates Riverside, home of Durham County Cricket Club, in Chester-le-Street on Saturday, July 27.

They will perform their extensive catalogue of hits ahead of Tears for Fears' performance.

ABC has enjoyed a glittering career to date, being one of several groups who kick-started the 80s with their own brand of pop.

The band, hailing from Sheffield, fused the world of disco funk with their own unique new romantic post punk vision.

On its release in May 1982, the band's debut album The Lexicon of Love went straight into the UK album charts at Number One, showcasing the hits songs Tears Are Not Enough, Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love and All Of My Heart. Voted by many as the best British album of the decade, it remains a classic.

Countless albums have followed, including Beauty Stab, How To Be A Zillionaire, Alphabet City, Up, Abracadabra, Skyscraping and Lexicon Of Live, with its live renditions of their debut album The Lexicon Of Love.

The last five years have seen ABC complete five successful American tours, four sell-out UK orchestra tours, the sell-out Steel City Arena tour and a string of country house shows in the UK.

Tears For Fears features Roland Orzabal (vocals, guitar and keyboards) and Curt Smith (vocals, bass and keyboards). With sales of more than 30 million albums worldwide, their songs have resonated and resounded throughout popular culture since 1981.

The Northern Echo:

Liz Doogan-Hobbs of LHG Live, said “Tears for Fears have amassed fans across the globe and continue to enthral through their unequivocal catalogue of hits.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be working with them this summer, and of course to now announce ABC as part of the line-up.”

Tickets for Tears for Fears at Emirates Riverside start at £32.50 plus booking fee and will be available online from tearsforfears.com, ticketmaster.co.uk, lhgtickets.com or durhamccc.co.uk or Ticketmaster’s accessibility line on 0800-9884440.

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