The outing actually kicked off April 22 in Albuquerque, but somebody apparently bogarted the press release, dude.

Currently the red-eye express is playing clubs and theatres in the Midwest, next heading east and finally doubling back for a West Coast hit.

Dubbed Y2K’s “band of the year” by High Times magazine, the Kings are gearing up for the May 8 release of a 60-minute video called “Dopeumentary,” a veritable stash box of live performance clips, interviews, backstage goofing and other goodies all rolled up into either DVD or VHS format.

KMK are still riding high on the strength of their second album, High Society, which has hit a quarter-million in sales since its June 2000 release. Their debut, Royal Highness, sold more than 300,000 copies.

In all, the band’s popularity has doubtless been enough to keep the Orange County, Calif.-based outfit in herb through three headlining tours in less than a year.

But don’t get the idea that extolling the virtues and pushing for the legalization of the demon weed is all Kottonmouth Kings and their touring brethren are about.

The rap-rock collective includes rappers Brad Daddy X, D-Loc and Jonny Richter; DJ Bobby B; drummer Lou Dog; and Pakelika (aka The Visual Assassin). They run their own label – Suburban Noize – which is tied to the merch.com merchandising company and artist management firm SRH.

The organization also works in conjunction with other friends of the Kottonmouth Kings, including tourmates Corporate Avenger, for a very grassroots business motif.

Given the general themes of KMK’s artistry, the band has managed to wreak havoc with more puritanical college administrators and city officials while spreading the word. They’ve been banned from playing several campuses and even from their relative home turf of Huntington Beach, Calif.

But as Brad Daddy told Pollstar last month, “Across the country, we haven’t had too many problems with promoters and venues because we usually leave behind good vibes with people.”

They may leave good vibes, but it might be a good idea to stash the Twinkies just in case.