POP legends The Osmonds are to perform in Bournemouth as part of their farewell tour of the UK next year.

The brothers, who were met by mobs of screaming fans when they first performed in Britain in the 1970s, will be at the BIC on Sunday May 6, 2012.

Their concerts, performed by Jimmy, Wayne, Merrill and Jay will include hits such as Crazy Horses, Love Me For a Reason, Down By the Lazy River and Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, the 1972 solo number one from Jimmy Osmond.

Jimmy said: “We truly want this tour to be a great big thank-you to all our fans for their love and support through the years.

“We’ve performed in the UK many times, but this final tour will take us all around the UK and allow us to get up close and personal with our fans – we can’t wait.”

The Osmonds began performing in 1958, when brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay started as a barbershop choir in their hometown of Ogden, Utah. They turned professional in 1962 when they were spotted by a talent scout at Disneyland and hired to play there for the summer.

Appearances on The Andy Williams Show brought them national fame and the brothers became major recording stars in the 1970s. Donny and Jimmy both had success with solo records, as did their sister Marie, who was to co-star with Donny in their own TV series.

In 1972, combined sales from the Osmonds’ releases and Donny Osmond’s solo records earned them nine gold discs – more than The Beatles or Elvis managed in a year.

In 1973, “Osmondmania” hit the UK, with fans mobbing the stages at their gigs to get closer to their favourite brother.

The Osmonds have recorded more than 200 albums, selling more than 100 million copies, with 59 gold and platinum records.

Tickets are on sale at the BIC now.