LA rockers Mr Big are best known for their 1991 global hit single 'To Be With You', which reached No 1 in 15 countries. Just three years after forming and selling 500,000 copies in the US alone, 'To be With You' was to be a career high and an oddly gentle one for a band with a heavy rock pedigree.

Guitarist Paul Gilbert left Mr Big in 1997 and, in 2002, the band called it a day - but not before they'd released six studio albums and a number of live recordings, often of shows in Japan where Mr Big remain hugely popular.

The band reformed in 2009 with Gilbert re-joining and restoring the original line-up. The reunion was apparently prompted by endless requests from (possibly Japanese) fans for Mr Big to get back together. Not only did the band reform, they also put out a new album - 2011's 'What If...' (released in 2010 in Japan). Mr Big went straight back into the Japanese Oricon album chart at No 7.

Having reprised their heavy rock roots somewhat with a performance at the 2011 Download festival at Donington Park, Mr Big have announced a series of UK dates for autumn 2011.

The first of the five dates is on 12th September at Bristol Academy, before shows in Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham and the final date at Shepherd's Bush Empire on 20th September.

Tickets are on sale from 9AM on Friday 17th June, priced at £25 (£27.50 for Shepherd's Bush).