It has been a love affair that has had its fair share of ecstatic highs and lows.

But after 36 years Echo and the Bunnymen are proving to survive the test of time that has ripped so many other bands apart.

This year they released their 12th album, Meteorites, their first record in five years and arguably more edgier in sound than The Fountain that came before it.

It stands as a landmark to the two original Bunnymen members’ drive to ensure the show played on despite other member deaths, the temporary departure of lead singer Ian McCulloch and a several year hiatus.

And announcing that they will play on two dates at Holmfirth Picturedrome this week due to unprecedented demand, it is clear that fan dedication to the band is as strong as when they exploded onto the Liverpool scene.

The band’s longest running member, guitarist and now popular artist, Will Sergeant, explained what keeps the cogs whirring at the start of their 13 date UK tour.

“I know there’s been ups and downs but to me this is it – there’s nothing else I’d do.

“When we reformed and released Evergreen and it got into the top 10 it made a story but we didn’t let it distract us, we just kept going as normal.

Following a complete band split in 1993, five years after McCulloch quit the band to pursue a solo career, Sergent and McCulloch began to work together again in 1994 under Electrafixation, in which they put out one album before returning as the Bunnymen in 1997.

“I wanted to carry on under the Bunnymen banner but Ian didn’t want to at that time.

“We didn’t have a name for ages, it was only when our promoters made us make the choice when we wanted to release some material that we had to come up with a name.

“We found it in a telephone box while talking to them.

“But when more and more Bunnymen songs started creeping into our sets I just thought, ‘what are we doing?’ and said to him that continuing under the name was just mad.”

It is being on stage that galvanises the energy within the duo, who constantly perform with a touring band around the world since they officially reformed in 1997.

“Playing live is the best thing there is – we get to travel all over the world.

“So I don’t understand why we would want to stop. Not carrying on is a no brainer.”

Amongst his favourite recent tours was his one in November, when Bunnymen stepped off the plane into South America for the first time.

“For me it was our best tour ever.

“We went to countries such as Peru, Argentina, Brazil an Paraguay and I couldn’t believe the response we got.

“Fans from there had been asking us to come. Initially we thought about half a dozen people would turn up to each gig but the we were quite wrong. We sold out.

“I’d love to do more overseas tours because there are a lot of places we could go such as the Far East.

“It’s a privilege to be able to travel around, even though we don’t have much time to see the places we go to.

“Touring internationally was life changing. Our first time in the USA just opened up a whole new world of possibilities to us.

“But back home is just as good too. Glasgow has turned out to be the best place for us. People just go nuts and they’re very much up for a good time.”

With a name that echoes with familiarity around the world, it was perhaps surprising to some when the band agreed to support James on a 10-date tour in 2013.

“We’ve not done many support slots but when we do it’s obviously different to headlining.

“Heading a show is a lot of effort whereas when we supported James we could just turn up and even all go back home to our own beds the same night.

“It’s good because you get to play music without the same amount of pressure to some fans of the headliners who may have never heard of us, which is exciting.”

No hints have yet been given as to if and when fans can expect another Bunnymen release.

“We are talking about doing another record but I don’t know – it seems like now you put a record out to just plug a tour. It’s just something that keeps promoters happy, which makes it a weird thing to do.

“At the same time you’ve got Spotify, which is stopping records getting bought.

“It’s reduced music to the value of toilet paper.

“That’s really sad in my eyes because when we were growing up music was everything.”

But for the moment Will is enjoying the heavy touring schedule, which is peppered with breaks in which he concentrates on his recent love of screen printing.

“I’m looking forward to every date, including playing at Holmfirth, especially because I didn’t expect to sell out there.

“But when I’m home I’ll be busy with my artwork and want to move into collaging when I find the time.”