The most talked about reunion of the year appears to have finally been confirmed at a press-conference today. No we don't mean Steps, New Kids on the Block or Backstreet Boys forming a super-group (the super bit might be contested by some) - we mean the return of The Stone Roses.

Ian Brown, John Squire, Mani and Reni attended the conference in Soho to reveal plans for two shows in Heaton Park in Manchester on 29th and 30th June next year, followed by a world tour. And with some new songs. Oh boy. Tickets (£55) will go on sale Friday at 9:30am!

Formed in 1983, The Stone Roses were that rare breed - a band worth the hype bestowed upon them when their self-titled debut album first appeared on the shelves in music-stores some six years later. But in reaching that milestone, The Roses had a far from straight-forward ride. John Squire, Andy Couzens and Gary 'Mani' Mounfield were originally mates messing about as a band called The Fireside Chaps, changing their line-up by recruiting one Ian Brown and switching their name to The Waterfront.

In late 1983, The Stone Roses were born with an initial recording session with Martin Hannett earmarked for the following year. From the sessions, the single "So Young" appeared along with a Manchester Piccadilly Radio appearance and the airing of a future anthem, "I Wanna Be Adored". After a string of singles on established indie-label Silvertone (whom The Stone Roses eventually lost patience with), the masterly debut-album swept all before it, both creatively and sales-wise and pre-empted the so-called 'baggy' Madchester scene. Like Happy Mondays and The Charlatans, The Stone Roses elevated Manchester above London as a musical centre of the universe (well, according to newspapers and music-monthlies desperate for a story and a scandal).

But as quickly as the Roses' star shone on high, it fell with a plummet a few years later when the band wrangled with Silvertone over payments, signed to Geffen, delivered an OK-ish second album, "Second Coming", saw wonder-drummer Reni Moses depart and imploded at the end of 1996. Brown has since gone on to experience sold-out stadiums and festival audiences as a solo artist, while the others formed bands (John Squire's The Seahorses) or join bands (Mani's slot in Primal Scream) - until now, that is.

Tickets for these reunion shows are sure to sell out in seconds - don't miss out.

Update: 21st October, 10am: initial dates sold-out, new date added!

So, no surprise that it took just 30 minutes for both dates to be snapped-up - even at the eyebrow-raising price of £55. The good news, however, is that a third date has been added for Sunday 1st July - and tickets are on sale now!

Update: 21st October, 10:40am: third date also sold out

So, that's a hat-trick of shows now sold out for the Stone Roses. Watch this space for further announcements!