John Mellencamp [ tickets ] has lined up a summer tour surrounding the release his forthcoming new album, the T Bone Burnett-produced "Life, Death, Love and Freedom."

The Indiana native--who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--will kick off the outing July 8 in Philadelphia. The 12-city tour will continue through early August. Dates are below.

Members of Mellencamp's online fan community will be offered early access to premium seating packages through an Internet pre-sale. More information can be found at Mellencamp's official website.

"Life, Death, Love and Freedom" is the 22nd studio album of Mellencamp's career. Due in stores July 15 on Starbucks' Hear Music label, the album tackles a darker side of the current state of America, according to the singer.

"I realized our country has written some sad motherf---in' songs," Mellencamp recently told Rolling Stone magazine. "I wanted to see if I had it in me to write like that. I see darkness everywhere, and I have to write about it. I don't care if I just sell six records. All I can do is keep on writing songs and singing."

The album's first single, "Jena," was released in October in response to the racially charged situation in that Louisiana town.

"The story is not, strictly speaking, about the town of Jena or this specific incident but of racism in America," Mellencamp said in a press statement. "The song was not written as an indictment of the people of Jena but, rather, as a condemnation of racism, a problem which I've reflected in many songs, a problem that still plagues our country today."

Mellencamp's previous release, last year's "Freedom's Road," emerged at No. 5 on The Billboard 200, earning him his highest debut ever. The set spawned crossover hits "The Americans" and "Our Country," the latter of which received a Grammy nod in the "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance" category.

The performer was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame last month with fellow 2008 class members Madonna, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five.