LONDON--Guns N' Roses confirmed the beginning of its first tour in seven years this week, announcing seven European shows that will kick off at the Rock im Park festival in Nuremberg, Germany, on June 1.

The band announced last October that it would be embarking on a world tour this year in support of "Chinese Democracy," its first studio offering since 1993's "The Spaghetti Incident" (Geffen). The new album is tipped to hit shops in June.

On New Year's Eve, Guns N' Roses performed live for the first time in seven years at Las Vegas' House of Blues. Last month, the band played at the Rock In Rio festival.

Guns N' Roses stormed the American rock scene in 1987 with the release of "Appetite for Destruction" (Geffen), an album that features the hits "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child O' Mine."

Frontman Axl Rose is the only original member in the current lineup, and is joined by one-time Guns N' Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed. New members include guitarists Buckethead, Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails) and Paul Tobias, drummer Brian "Brain" Mantia (Primus) and bassist Tommy Stinson (Replacements).