The first batch of confirmed dates have emerged for Creed [ tickets ]'s 2002 tour, which is expected to run for most of the year. Eighteen January and February shows--mostly east of the Mississippi--are on the band's initial itinerary.

Though the group was expected to open its tour with a Jan. 14 appearance at the Lakeland Civic Center in its home base of Florida, that date wasn't confirmed at press time. The first confirmed date is Jan. 16 in Atlanta.

Following a March tour of Australia, Creed is expected to play several additional North American dates in April. A European tour is penciled in for May and June, and more North American dates are slated for July through November. Sevendust is likely to support on some North American dates, but no opening acts have been confirmed.

Creed's outing will probably be one of 2002's hottest tickets. In 2000, the band grossed $26 million over 79 North American shows, according to Pollstar.

The new Creed album, "Weathered," sold about 887,000 copies during its first week in stores, and will debut atop next week's Billboard 200 album chart, according to industry sources.

Creed offers up 11 new tracks on "Weathered," the follow-up to the band's 10 million-plus selling 1999 album, "Human Clay." John Kurzweg, who produced the bands two previous albums, returned to turn the knobs again.

The band will perform on the My VH1 Music Awards on Sunday (12/2), will appear on "The Tonight Show" on Monday (12/3), and will present a Billboard Music Award on Tuesday (12/4).