JAMES TO PLAY FOR BRITISH FANS IN OCTOBER 9.00

LONDON--James has announced an 11-date U.K. tour to kick off in October. The pop group, who released its last album "Millionaires" in 1999, will start the outing in Leeds, England, on Oct. 21 and finish up in London on Nov. 8.

According to its official website, tickets will go on sale "exclusively to James fans" beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday (8/31) and to the general public at 9 a.m. on Friday (9/1).

The next studio album, for which "30 new songs have been sketched out," is tipped to be released in May, 2001. The group reports that it will work on the album with Brian Eno (U2, David Bowie) and Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur).

Led by Tim Booth, James formed in 1982 in Manchester, England, which was also the breeding ground for other "Madchester" acts from the '80s, including the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses.

October 

21 - Leeds, England - Leeds University 

22 - Liverpool, England - Royal Court 

23 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange 

25 - Bristol, England - Colston Hall 

27 - Poole, England - Arts Centre 

November 

2 - Blackpool, England - Empress Ballroom 

3 - Grimbsy, England - Grimsby Auditorium 

4 - Norwich, England - University of East Angland 

6 - Sheffield, England - City Hall 

7 - Nottingham, England - Rock City 

8 - London, England - Brixton Academy