As if the news that the White Stripes are playing Dublin's Marlay Park and Belfast's Botanic Gardens on August 24 and 25 respectively wasn't exciting enough, it's been confirmed that the support for both dates is the reformed New York Dolls.

With the other members either unwilling to participate or dead, David Johansen, Arthur Kane and Sylvain Sylvain will be joined on stage by Guns N Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin and Libertines drummer Gary Powell.

A Dolls reunion seemed as likely as hell freezing over until the former President of their UK Fan Club, Morrissey, begged them to play at this month's Meltdown Festival in London which he's the curator of.

While chances of them wearing the high heels, lady's lingeries and slap of yore seem remote, the band are promising to give a live airing to the seminal likes of 'Personality Crisis', 'Trash', 'Jetboy' and 'Looking For A Kiss'.