Known for their stripped-down, three-chord hits such as "Rockin' All Over the World" and "Caroline", the band will play five dates in Glasgow, Manchester, Wolverhampton and London in March 2012.

Current frontmen Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt will be reunited with Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan, who both left Status Quo in the 1980s, the band said on its website.

The classic line-up -- dubbed the Frantic Four -- was in place when the band adopted their name in 1967 and during the period when they scored most of their biggest hits.

The tour also marks 50 years since Rossi and Lancaster first formed a group.

"People have wanted this announcement to be made for years, and here it is," Status Quo manager Simon Porter said in a statement.

"This is a real moment in the chequered history of Status Quo and it comes after almost 30 years of acrimony, and 10 years of law suits and court battles," he added.

"Just two years ago the thought of the Frantic Four performing again was unthinkable.

"Now, 50 years on from when Francis and Alan first performed together as schoolboys, it is fitting that everything has come full circle for these unique one-off shows."

In their four and a half decades, Status Quo have sold around 119 million records and notched up 64 British hit singles, more than any other band.

They were also the opening act for the 1985 Live Aid concert, which raised money for famine-hit Ethiopia.