The tour rolls out July 31 at San Diego State University and stops in 26 markets including Denver, Vancouver, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Boston, and Philadelphia.

The leg will culminate with a two-night homecoming at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre near Indianapolis September 21-22.

One week later, he returns to the same venue with pals Willie Nelson and Neil Young for the 16th annual Farm Aid benefit, which Mellencamp co-founded with them.

The tour is expected to extend into 2002, well after Cuttin’ Heads hits shelves in September. Earlybird fans on this tour will be treated to previews of the new material.

In addition to the never-before performed songs, Mellencamp’s reps say he’ll do plenty of familiar tunes – he has scored ten Top 10 singles over his career – as well as rarities that he hasn’t played live.

The Indiana-bred rocker last toured through the U.S. with his unusual Good Samaritan Tour last fall. For that outing, he popped up unannounced in downtown areas of eight major cities and gave free performances.

The surprise concerts attracted crowds of more than 10,000 in Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta and other stops.