Hey, hey, it’s The Monkees – one of the best-loved pop bands of the 1960s is heading back on tour in the UK for the first time in 12 years.

Three members of the original line-up — Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork — will play Birmingham’s NIA on May 21 as part of a 10-date tour in honour of their 45th anniversary.

A source at the NEC said today: “This is very exciting news. The Monkees were a band that caused a huge stir at the time. There is a definite buzz about this show.”

Tickets go on sale on Friday but venue bosses  said they had not yet been informed of prices.

The Monkees were responsible for some of the songs that defined the 60s, including I’m a Believer, Last Train to Clarkesville and Daydream Believer.

Despite critics who picked on their manufactured beginnings — they were created specifically to star in a TV show of the same name in 1966 and were accused of never playing live — they amassed a global following and, in 1967, outsold both The Beatles and Rolling Stones combined.

Altogether the band have sold more than 50 million records worldwide with the first 16m selling in their first two-and-a-half years.

Dolenz and Jones last played at Birmingham’s NEC in 2002, but this is the first time in over a decade they have been joined by Tork.

They went on to take greater control of their musical output, eventually racking up a total of nine top 40 hits.

The group has reformed to go on tour several times, in particular following the revival of the TV series in 1986.

It is as yet unclear whether fourth original member Mike Nesmith, who has released a number of solo albums since leaving the band, will take part.

Nesmith left on bad terms following a row with management over the manufactured nature of the band in 1970. He briefly joined in a UK tour in 1997 but once again fell out with his bandmates.

He has not been cited as being in the line-up for the shows but rumours today suggested he could join the others for at least one of the performances.

It is rumoured each band member will earn around £1million from the tour.