THE young dudes that put Hereford on the musical map have confirmed they are reuniting after 35 years.

Nothing short of war, death and famine will stop Mott the Hoople from reforming, according to singer Ian Hunter.

The band’s original line-up is reuniting for two London gigs in October, some 40 years after their formation.

The five piece – Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Pete ‘Overend’ Watts, Verden Allen and Dale ‘Buffin’ Griffin – will perform at the Hammersmith Apollo on October 2 and 3. Hunter, aged 69, confirmed the reunion on his website after weeks of speculation.

“Just thought you’d like to know the Mott the Hoople reunion is going to take place,” he wrote. “It will be the original members – Mick, Pete, Phally, Buff and me.

“Why are we doing it? I can’t speak for the others, but I'm doing it just to see what it’s like. Short of war, death, famine, etc – it’s on.”

Tickets went on sale on January 22 and fans from Canada, Sweden and Milan are among the thousands who have forked out. The band has a loyal fanbase, and their admirers include David Bowie, Bryan May and Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream.

The group – whose members live in America, Oxfordshire and South Wales as well as Herefordshire – will get together this summer ahead of the Hammersmith gigs.

The road to central London started last March when Hunter and organist, Verden Allen, made a low-key appearance in Kent.

“I sat in and played All the Young Dudes with him in the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford,” said Allen. “We went back to the hotel and Ian said to me, ‘will you have a word with Pete and Buffy?’ Once he said that, I knew that was it.

“We didn’t realise at the time it was the 40th anniversary. The idea was just to get the band back together.”

Tickets are priced £36 and £42.50, and are available through various outlets.