THE Clone Roses will join Celebrity Big Brother winner Bez for a special live date in London when the freaky dancin' TV star is reunited with the Happy Mondays.

The St Helens based tribute to The Stone Roses, have secured a support slot on the '48 Hour Party People' gigs to be held at Brixton Academy on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 March. The Clone Roses join a line-up on the Saturday that boasts The Happy Mondays and The Farm, plus DJ sets from Primal Scream's Mani and Inspiral Carpet's Clint Boon.

Manchester's most celebrated maraca player beat off stiff competition from Blazin' Squad heart throb Kenzie and actress Brigitte Nielson to scoop the £50,000 first prize in Channel 4's smash hit reality television show.

Sales of the Happy Mondays' back catalogue soared with Bez's popularity among the nation and after leaving the house he announced that a reunion with his band mates was on the cards.

Gav Scott, lead singer with The Clone Roses, said; "The band are delighted to have been asked to support the Happy Mondays in London. We have performed a number of shows with Bez and were really pleased to see him win Celebrity Big Brother on Sunday night. We've also performed with Shaun Ryder before so are no strangers to the band and we're really excited about playing at this fantastic event."

The Clone Roses won't be appearing in St Helens until November 2005 but their next local show will be at Liverpool University on Saturday 30 April, with support from tribute 'The Other Smiths'.

For tickets phone the Radio City box office on 0151 256 5555.