The "Sonic Temple" was reopened for business on Thursday as the freshly reunited Cult kicked off its first U.S. tour in four years at the Warfield in San Francisco.

The seminal goth-psychedelic-hard rock group, whose lineup now includes singer Ian Astbury, guitarist Billy Duffy, former Porno For Pyros bassist Martyn Le Noble, and ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum, played an 1-1/2 hour set of classic cuts, including "Sweet Soul Sister," "Wild Flower," and "Love Removal Machine.

While making a special appearance at the Tibetan Freedom Concert last month, the band chatted a bit about its plans following the long-awaited road trip.

[article id="1442307"]"After the tour that we're gonna do, we're gonna go... probably do some songwriting, probably do some songwriting during the tour,"[/article] Astbury told MTV News. [article id="1442307"]"But then, we're looking for a producer and [we're] available for a record deal as well.

Yeah, we just

found we're off the leash,"[/article] Duffy added, [article id="1442307"]"so we're, like, going out there and toutin' ourselves about, you know, lookin' all sexy and slender.... It's all good." [RealVideo][/article]

The contractually un-obligated group is expected to enter the studio in late August to start work on the follow-up to its 1994 self-titled effort. The as-yet-untitled work (pending a label deal) should be released in the spring of 2000 and followed by a tour that summer.

If you'd like to see the "sexy and slender" Cult for yourself, head for the following venues:

• 7/20 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
• 7/21 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
• 7/23 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
• 7/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
• 7/26 - Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
• 7/27 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
• 7/29 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo
• 7/30 - Toronto, ON @ Warehouse
• 7/31 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre