NORTH-EAST rock legends Lindisfarne are back on the road promoting a new album 30 years after their biggest commercial success.

The Geordie band, who have released a 13-track disc, Promenade, began a 40-date national tour at the start of the month.

They will play the region's newest venue, Durham City's Gala Theatre, on Sunday, March 31.

This will be followed by gigs at the Billingham Forum, on Friday, April 5, and the Newcastle Opera House, on Saturday, April 6.

In 1972, Lindisfarne's original line-up - Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Simon Cowe, Rod Clements and Ray Laidlaw - became the biggest-selling British act of the year with their second album, Fog on the Tyne.

It went gold, staying in the charts for 43 weeks, and was followed into the top ten by the band's first and third albums.

At the height of their success, the original line-up broke up under the pressure of constant touring and the demand for more hits.

They reformed a few years later, but apart from the album Back and Fourth, and single Run For Home, did not make the charts until 1990 when they recorded a rap version of the Alan Hull-penned Fog on the Tyne with footballer Paul Gascoigne. The group decided to continue after the death of main songwriter Alan Hull, in 1995.

Drummer Ray Laidlaw said: "We are looking forward to the Durham gig because it is a brand new theatre."

On the day of the Newcastle Opera House gig, the band will hold a Lindisfarne convention featuring a question and answer session.

Admission will be limited to 200 ticket-holders.

* For box office details, call the Durham Gala Theatre on 0191-383 0100, the Billingham Forum on (01642) 552663, or Newcastle Opera House on 0191-232 0899.

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