THE 60s band, who are known, mostly, for their maudlin ballad, He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother, are in concert in Cardiff on Thursday.

They're back with one original member, Tony Hicks, plus Bobby Elliott who joined later, and four new recruits, including Carl Wayne who sang for the Move.

Hicks has played lead guitar since the band's genesis in Manchester 1962, later writing songs, and Elliott replaced the band's original drummer, Don Rathbone, early on.

The band's two other songwriters and singers, Allan Clark and Graham Nash, have long since fled, Nash to make "music that means something" in Crosby, Stills and Nash.

The band named themselves after Buddy Holly, and were signed by EMI. They began by covering Coasters' hits like Ain't That Just Like Me, which failed, but Searchin' made number 12.

The vocal harmonies which would eventually set them apart were first heard on Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs' Stay.

Just One Look refined this further and they took that Beatles-esque step of having more than one member sing solo vocals.

Then they made number two behind the Beatles with a Doris Troy song. The covers ended when Clark, Hicks and Nash started writing more songs and their production became more transatlantic.

Here I Go Again, We're Through, Yes I Will, I'm Alive and Look Through Any Window were hits 1964-65, while a cover of George Harrison's If I Needed Someone made number 20.

Hits in the US had started by then with the yanks picking up on Hicks' catchy, repetitive figures and the band's unusual instrumentation.

After more hits and two progressive rock-tainted albums Nash left then, after He Ain't Heavy in 1969-70, Clark did likewise for a solo career. The band limped into the 70s releasing their last record in 72. The nostalgia package tours started in the 80s with varying line-ups. The latest calls on St David's Hall, Cardiff on Thursday. Dial 029 2087 8444 for tickets.