Pop-rockers the Pretenders, who released the album Viva el Amor!

in June, will launch an extensive North American tour in January.

The new album, which is the Pretenders' first studio collection since

1994's Last of the Independents, includes an appearance by legendary

guitarist Jeff Beck on the rocker "Legalise Me" (RealAudio

excerpt).

The Pretenders toured during the summer with the all-female Lilith Fair

tour, and the band's frontwoman, Chrissie Hynde, apparently enjoyed the

experience.

"Apart from the fact that we are a bunch of dumb girls, aren't [we]

fantastic?" she said onstage at a New Jersey stop.

Ohio native Hynde, 48, and drummer Martin Chambers are the only remaining original members of the group,

which formed in England in 1978. The band's hits include such concise, guitar-driven pop songs as "Brass in Pocket" (RealAudio excerpt), "Talk of the Town" (RealAudio excerpt) and "My City Was Gone."

Pretenders tour dates:

Jan. 28; Sunrise, Fla.; Sunrise Musical Theatre

Jan. 29; Clearwater, Fla.; Ruth Eckerd Hall

Jan. 31; Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; House of Blues

Feb. 1; Atlanta, Ga.; Tabernacle

Feb. 3; Austin, Texas; Austin Music Hall

Feb. 4; Houston, Texas; Aerial Theatre

Feb. 5; New Orleans, La.; House of Blues

Feb. 6; Dallas, Texas; Bronco Bowl

Feb. 8; Denver, Colo.; Paramount Theater

Feb. 10; Phoenix, Ariz.; Union Hall

Feb. 11; Universal City, Calif.; Universal Amphitheatre

Feb. 12; Las Vegas, Nev.; House of Blues

Feb. 13; Bakersfield, Calif.; Fox Theatre

Feb. 14; San Francisco, Calif.; Fillmore

Feb. 16.; Seattle, Wash.; Paramount Theatre

Feb. 17–18; Portland, Ore.; Roseland Theater

Feb. 19; Vancouver, British Columbia; Orpheum Theatre

Feb. 23; Minneapolis, Minn.; Orpheum Theatre

Feb. 24; Milwaukee, Wis.; Riverside Theatre

Feb. 25–26; Chicago, Ill.; Riviera Theatre

Feb. 28; Akron, Ohio; Akron Civic Center

Feb. 29; Detroit, Mich.; State Theatre

March 1; Toronto, Ontario; Massey Hall

March 3; Uncasville, Conn.; Mohegan Sun Casino

March 4; Boston, Mass.; Avalon

March 5; Burlington, Vt.; Flynn Theatre

March 7; Washington, D.C.; 9:30 Club

March 10; New York, N.Y.; Roseland

March 11; Upper Darby, Pa.; Tower Theatre

March 12; Pittsburgh, Pa.; A.J. Palumbo Center