THE Manfreds are back in Cardiff for a gig which has been promoted by their former second saxophone honker, Alan Jones.

The 60s pop band, who released classic hits, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, 5-4-3-2-1, Pretty Flamingo and Mighty Quinn, are at The Coal Exchange on Tuesday, November 23, with The Blues Band in support.

Six of the original Manfreds are still with the band - Mike Vickers (saxophone, woodwind and flute), Paul 'could have been the Rolling Stones front-man' Jones (vocals and harmonica), Mike 'Likely Lads theme' Hugg (keyboards, formerly drums and vibes), Rob Townsend (drums), Tom McGuinness (guitar) and Marcus Cliffe (bass).

The Manfreds stopped playing in 1969 but following a jolly reunion in 1991, after not playing their hits together for nearly 25 years, the band fell back into rank with a dynamic freshness.

Each member has had success away from The Manfreds as well as in it. Paul Jones left in 1966 and had two hits, High Times and I've Been a Bad, Bad Boy, played harmonica for Tina Turner, among others, and toured extensively with the R&B outfit, The Blues Band.

Mike D'Abo continued writing hits after 1969 including Hand Bag and Gladrags, Mike Hugg wrote the theme to the Likely Lads and made countless television jingles and was one of the first musicians to work with computers in the 1980s. Rob Townsend was also in Family and drummed for Memphis Slim and Duane Eddy; Tom McGuinness played in McGuinness Flint; Mike Vickers is on more famous recordings possible to list here (Lily the Pink is among them), and Marcus Cliffe has played with every man and his dog including Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Tanita Tikaram.

The Manfreds play The Coal Exchange on Tuesday November 23 with The Blues Band in support. Tickets are £10. Dial (029) 2049 4917 for more information.