May 26, 2000 13:45

MARR-VELLOUS!

[b]Healers[/b] make their long-awaited arrival with a secret gig in Lancaster...

Johnny Marr and his new band HEALERS made their live debut at a secret gig at the SUGAR HOUSE in Lancaster last night (May 25), nme.com can reveal.

As a warm-up to this weekend's official unveiling at the Coventry Colloseum (May 27), Marr and his band played an hour-and-a-quarter set of completely new material with the former Smiths guitarist on vocal duty throughout.

Members of Marr's band included ex-Kula Shaker bassist Alonso Bevan, Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey, a percussionist named Liz Bonney and a keyboard player called Lee Spencer.

Punters who turned up at the venue expecting a regular indie disco discovered a change in the evening's plan when Marr announced from the stage: "We're Healers if you didn't know already, and this is our first gig."

Rumours had earlier gone round town that the evening's secret gig was to be from resurgent Norwegian popsters A-ha.

A spokesperson for Marr said the band enjoyed the show and thought they were sounding great.