Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Margate gigs by two legendary British bands whose influence has endured over decades.

On Friday, November 7, 10cc will play at the Winter Gardens with reggae stars UB40 taking the stage on Saturday, November 15 in their biggest UK tour for more than three years.

10cc are acknowledged to be one of the most inventive and influential forces in the history of popular music.

The group achieved commercial, critical and creative success, notching up eleven Top 10 hits including number ones Rubber Bullets, I’m Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday and selling 15 million albums in the UK alone.

They still sell out major concert halls and their millions of fans include fellow artistes Robert Plant, Chrissie Hynde and Axl Rose to The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie and Sophie Ellis Bextor.With eleven Top 10 hits, including three No 1s – Rubber Bullets, I’m Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday – it’s no surprise the band has sold 15 million albums in the UK alone.

The original band of four was Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme. They wrote and recorded together for three years, before assuming the name 10cc in 1972.

Founding member Graham Gouldman, who heads the current line up, said of 10cc’s success and their songs: “They don’t seem to date. They are original, we never followed any trend we simple wrote for our own pleasure. The fact that the songs are being played as often on the radio today as they ever were shows how true that is.”

“The current band is as near as you’re ever going to get to hearing the perfect 10cc. Hit after hit after hit. It’s relentless. We show no mercy.”

UB40’s tour follows the success of the band’s latest Top 30 album Getting Over The Storm, winner of BBC Radio 2’s Album Of The Week accolade and top reviews since its release in September 2013.

The band’s Robin Campbell said: “Having suffered a few setbacks recently, including our drummer Jimmy and percussionist Norman’s health issues, we’re now firing on all cylinders and itching to get out on the road and play our fans all the hits and some tracks off the latest album ‘Getting Over The Storm’.

Named after the unemployment benefit form UB40 and formed in 1978, the band released their debut album Signing Off in August 1980

It is considered by many to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band. I

Since then UB40 have achieved more than forty UK Top 40 hit singles and sales of more than 100 million records. They are considered one of the most successful British groups ever.

Tickets are on sale from 9am, Friday April 25, and are £29.50 (tier 1) and £27.50 (tier 2) for 10cc and £28.50 for UB40.

Contact the box office on 01843 292795 or visit www.margatewintergardens.co.uk