Bradford rock band New Model Army will have to stay on their best behaviour on their latest tour - if they want to avoid a spell in the salt mines.

The five-piece are about to become one of the first Western groups to play the unlikely rock venue of Siberia.

Originally New Model Army had planned to travel there for a concert in the city of Jakatarinberg before Christmas.

But that show and two others in Moscow and St Petersburg were called off because of uncertainty over the Russian economic crisis. The band's manager, Tommy Tee, said it was now hoped the gigs would go ahead in February.

"I have never heard of anyone else playing in Siberia before. I can think of a few who have played in Moscow but it's probably something of a first," he said.

He added that the band were in some ways relieved that the dates were being rescheduled but delighted that they were still going ahead.

Singer Justin Sullivan said: "It has long been a dream of ours to play in Russia and it would have been a great shame if it had not happened but you have to be realistic about these things. Anyway, Siberia - in December?!"

New Model Army, who first formed in Bradford in 1980 and have become one of the city's most enduring rock groups, are also popular in more accessible parts of the former Eastern Bloc.

Their current European tour includes dates in Poland and parts of what used to be East Germany.

Drummer Robert Heaton, who was diagnosed as suffering from a non-malignant brain tumour in January, has announced that his retirement from the band will be permanent.

New Model Army have also bucked the trend by releasing their current album, Strange Brotherhood, on vinyl.

Tommy Tee said: "Research showed there is still heavy demand for vinyl and since record companies don't want to make it any more the band decided to do it for themselves."

The three-record set is out in a full colour gatefold sleeve and contains 19 tracks in all - all the album tracks plus extra studio tracks from this year's singles. It is available by mail order only. For more details write to the New Model Army Fan Club at PO Box 2168, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8QZ.

The band will play in Yorkshire at the Sheffield Octagon on December 10.

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