The Yardbirds [ tickets ] hit the road this summer for a U.S. tour that supports "Birdland," the group's first new studio set since 1968.

The album--which comes 35 years after the group's previous studio release, "Little Games"--landed in stores on Tuesday (4/22).

Founding members Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar) and Jim McCarty (drums/songwriter) recorded "Birdland" with new members Gypie Mayo (lead guitar and backing vocals), John Idan (bass and lead vocals) and Alan Glen (harmonica and backing vocals). The album features seven new cuts, as well as remakes of eight of the group's '60s-era classics: "I'm Not Talking," "The Nazz are Blue," "Train Kept a Rolling," "Mr. You're a Better Man Than I," "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago." "Heart Full of Soul," "Over Under Sideways Down," "For Your Love" and "Shapes of Things."

Former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck makes a guest appearance on one of the album's tracks. Slash, Steve Vai, the Goo Goo Dolls' Johnny Rzeznik and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter also make contributions.

Dreja talked about the new album in a recent statement.

"To make our first album in so many years has been a lasting ambition of ours," he said. "We wanted to do our original songs and our new ones with modern production while preserving the essence of our sound. It was a labor of love, and we're grateful to everyone who helped--our guest musicians and especially to Steve Vai."

Dreja went on to say that he doesn't think that the band has lost a step in the three-and-a-half decades that have passed since the group issued "Little Games."

"To me, it doesn't sound like we've been away for 35 years," he said. "The Yardbirds are still a kick-ass, high-energy band--and that comes across on this album."

Aside from its string of '60s-era hits, the Yardbirds are perhaps best known for spawning rock-guitar gods Beck, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton.