WHEN it comes to the 80s revival, there is many a nightclub that has had the crowds stomping on the dancefloor to Dexy's Midnight Runners' Come on Eileen.

It's one of those classic tracks you can chant along to, rather like being at a football match.

Fronted by moody broody Kevin Rowland, Dexy's are best remembered for their rough and ready country image, clad in dungarees.

Well the new, reinvented Dexy's Midnight Runners have reformed for the first time in 17 years, and will be coming to Wolverhampton in October.

"Don't expect a revival because you will be disappointed," says Kevin Rowland.

"We intend to bring a theatrical edge to the whole show and we will be playing the hits, because we don't want to trample on people's memories.

"The big hits will be done as faithfully as possibly, but we will be doing at least a couple of new songs and we will be putting a new perspective on the whole thing.

"A lot of the tracks will be re-appraised to make them relevant to us, and, I believe, the audience now."

Song-writing team Kevin Rowland and Kevin Archer burst into the punk-scene in 1979 and their music set them apart from the 2 Tone types and the frippery of the New Romantics.

The sound of Dexy's consisted of pumping horns, jazz inflections and a Northern Soul stomp.

Dexy's began with visual imagery of woolly hats, donkey jackets and hold-alls.

The first album, Searching For The Young Soul Rebels, was released in 1980, but the pace of events surrounding the top 10 success of the album created internal tensions, causing the band to splinter.

Rowland and Paterson then reassembled Dexy's with a new line-up.

Hits followed in the shape of singles such as Show Me and by the spring of 1982 the group appeared with a totally fresh sound and visual style.

The album Too-Rye-Ay in 1982 acted as a showcase for Dexy's famous raggle, taggle gypsy look.

The look was aided by the violin work of Helen O'Hara, and is best displayed on the international number one Come On Eileen.

The hits kept coming, notably The Celtic Soul Brothers and a cover of Van Morrison's Jackie Wilson Said.

Don't Stand Me Down was released in 1985.

But the band's image changed and Dexy's broke up, although they scored another top 20 hit with Because of You in 1986 before bowing out.

Kevin Rowland will be joined by original Dexy's member Pete Williams and Lucy Morgan on violin when Dexy's play Wolverhampton.

Other band members will be announced over the coming weeks. Catch them at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton on Thursday, October 23.

Tickets are £20 from Midland Box Office on 01902 552121.