For the second time this year, Palmerston North fans of Kiwi rock band Dragon will get to see them live.

After a successful show in February, they have announced a return to the city in October as part of their 40th anniversary tour.

Lead singer Mark Williams wasn't with the band in their young years, joining when they re-formed in 2005 after a decade's hiatus and the death of Marc Hunter.

Williams said the show earlier this year at The Regent on Broadway was "fantastic".

"I can actually remember the feeling in there."

That night the band, of which bass guitarist Todd Hunter is the sole survivor of the 1970s lineup, kept fans happy by milking their famous anthems like Rain, April Sun in Cuba and Are You Old Enough?

Williams said they have no worries with singing those hits again and again, as it is what their fans pay for.

But they include some new work too and still write songs.

"We'd become a cabaret band if we just kept on doing well known songs."

The same applies to Williams, who had several solo hits in the 70s, including Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life.

When Dragon began, he would often be in the audience watching their performances.

Dragon play at the Regent on October 16 and tickets go on sale from Monday at Ticketdirect.

- © Fairfax NZ News