The many fans holding their breath waiting for the sequel to ABC’s 1982 landmark No.1 album The Lexicon of Love must now be relieved.

The band, fronted by singer Martin Fry, released The Lexicon of Love II earlier this year.

Their ninth studio album, it will form part of their performance at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on Monday, October 17.

After 10 UK and five US top 40 hits between 1981 and 1990, ABC will be performing the 1982 debut album in full and tracks from The Lexicon of Love II, which includes the Radio 2 A-listed single Viva Love.

Ten of the songs on the new album are written by Martin, 58.

He said: “We performed a show at the Albert Hall a couple of years ago to mark the 30th anniversary of The Lexicon of Love. It struck me there and then that it was time to make a sequel, to explore those themes once again and to look at love through the eyes of a man in later life. Now the years have passed, my perspective on life and love has changed.

"I wanted to make an album that reflected that.”

The show starts at 7.30pm.

For tickets from £29.50, visit marlowetheatre.com or call 01227 787787.

POP CORNERSTONE

The cornerstone of 1980s dance pop, The Lexicon of Love was released in June 1982. Featuring four singles – Tears Are Not Enough, Poison Arrow, The Look of Love and All of My Heart – it went straight to No.1.

One of the seminal albums of the decade, it was produced by Trevor Horn who the following year would go on to form The Art of Noise.