IN the 1980s, Howard Jones was a familiar figure on Top of the Pops, surrounded by keyboards and singing hit after hit.

From his debut release New Song to classics such as What is Love? and Like to Get to Know You Well his music has become firmly associated with the decade.

Next week Howard will be back out on the road, touring with his full electric band for the first time in three years to bring those songs and more to life. The tour also coincides with the release of a new greatest hits album.

The tour follows a series of dates with the band in America.

“That was great fun to do,” he said. “We toured during the summer with six bands on the bill and it’s such fun to travel round with 47 people on the road.

“People were joining each other on stage and we just got to know each other.”

But back in the UK, Howard will very much be taking centre stage.

“It’s a chance to do a full set and go through songs throughout my career right up to the things I did for the recent Eddie the Eagle film,” he said.

On his most recent UK tours, Howard has toured on his own telling stories behind his songs and playing them on piano or keyboard

“In telling stories and playing different songs and different interpretations of songs which people know, it is a much more intimate and challenging experience,” he said. “In a way being with the band is more like a celebration. I’ve got four other people on stage with me so it’s less pressure too.”

Although songs from throughout his career will feature, Howard is not one to look back too much.

“I would worry if I didn’t have anything new to offer,” he said. “That feels to me as though you have become a musical museum or something.

“So even with the old songs, I like to throw something in that’s not expected or a bit different. It keeps it fresh for me and the audience hopefully.”

Howard is hoping to showcase a new song on the tour, We’re in This Together, which has has written for a new animation, Animal Crackers.

“The movie’s out in December and I’m thinking we might play it with the band,” he said.

Even though his songs have featured both in Eddie the Eagle and now Animal Crackers, Howard does not regard himself as a film composer.

“I’m a songwriter at heart rather than a composer,” he said. “My favourite thing is the songwriting side. It always ultimately goes back to the songs.

“But not only can songs can make a huge difference to a movie, they are an interesting way for people to discover your work. You have always got to look at different ways of getting new music out there.”

At the beginning of 2018 Howard will be back in the States on a solo tour but then it will be down to work on new material.

“For November next year which marks the 35th anniversary of me releasing New Life, I want to have a new album ready,” he said. “I’ve decided to collaborate with different people, that’s the quickest way of me getting that amount of songs done.

“I’ve been working with an American artist called BT. I’m a huge fan of his work and I’ve got to know him so I have amazing thing on the go with him. I’m also going to work with some of my producer friends and see what we come up with.

“I’ve found that if I set myself a deadline, it really helps me, somehow it comes together.”

But before then, there are the full band shows.

“It is such a pleasure to play songs to people who know them and really want to hear them,” he said.

Howard Jones, Manchester Ritz, Friday, November 24. Details from www.ticketmaster.co.uk