Alternative rock icons, the Violent Femmes have just rolled out a string of 11 spring dates in celebration of the 40th anniversary of their self-titled 1983 debut. The “Blister In The Sun” legends will be performing the classic first album in its entirety, with the band still featuring founding members Gordon Gano on guitar and lead vocals and bassist Brian Ritchie. Jesse Ahern will be opening for the band.

This coming Record Store Day (April 23rd), the band’s debut set will its first-ever picture disc vinyl pressing. Brooklyn Vegan reported, “It features the album art on one side, with the inner sleeve on the flipside.”

Bassist Brian Ritchie spoke about the differences between the Violent Femmes playing abroad and back home in the States: “Any other country you go to outside of America has a more intelligent audience. Because Americans are kind of devolving into this short attention span, media-saturated, computer-overdriven and poorly-disciplined group of youth. So they show some enthusiasm, but they don’t show a whole lot of intelligence.”

JUST ANNOUNCED: Violent Femmes tour dates (subject two change):

May 6 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall
May 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre
May 10 – San Diego, CA – Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (Violent Femmes only with San Diego Symphony)
May 11, 12 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriets
May 14 – Santa Fe, NM – Lensic Performing Arts Center
May 16 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues
May 17 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
May 18 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
May 19 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
May 21 – Denver, CO – Levitt Pavilion