Tears For Fears, who had uber-hits with Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World, make their Welsh comeback this weekend.

The duo, who sold in excess of 30 million records, are in Cardiff International Arena on Sunday.

Catching pop pundits by surprise, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith released a new single, Closest Thing To Heaven, and a new album, Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, in February, on Gut Records.

Two years ago they hadn't been heard of for more than ten years but then one of their hits, Mad World, was re-recorded for the film Donnie Darko by Gary Jules.

It made number one and suddenly everyone was talking about the band behind the original.

So good is Jules' version that Orzabal and Smith have adopted its style for their current string of live dates.

Commenting on the forthcoming tour, Roland Orzabal said: "Both Curt and I are really looking forward to the forthcoming UK dates. There is an amazing feeling you get from a live performance, particularly with British audiences.

"Not only do we get the chance to play some of our classic songs, but we also get to perform material from our new album, which has been a real labour of love."

It's 22 years since Tears For Fears' debut, The Hurting, which was a sophisticated collection of inward-looking, electro-tinged pop songs including Mad World, Pale Shelter and Change.

Two years later they released Songs From The Big Chair which was an international sensation boasting two UK and US number ones, Everybody Wants To Rule The World and Shout.

It took them four years till album number three, Sowing The Seeds Of Love, which spawned one hit of the same name.

Orzabal and Smith didn't work together again until this year's new album.

"Everybody Loves A Happy Ending is a truly spectacular album of epic proportions and one which is bound to win over a new legion of fans," says Orzabal. "This is the album that should have followed Seeds Of Love in many ways.

"When we did Sowing The Seeds Of Love we were doing Lennon. I would say the main influence for this album was McCartney because I think McCartney is the new Lennon."

* Tears For Fears play Cardiff International Arena on Sunday. Tickets are £27.50.

Dial 029 2022 3333 for more info.