WASHINGTON: The Rolling Stones announced on Wednesday a highly anticipated nine-city North American tour ahead of their first gig in London's Hyde Park in more than four decades.

On its website, the legendary British rock group — which last year marked its 50th anniversary together — said the “50 and Counting” tour would kick off in Los Angeles on a date yet to be confirmed.

It will then move on to Oakland and San Jose, California on May 5 and May 8 respectively, before proceeding to Las Vegas, Anaheim in suburban Los Angeles, Toronto in southeastern Canada, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.

“We did a few shows in London and New York last year and had such a good time that we thought, 'Let's do some more,' frontman Mick Jagger said on www.rollingstones.com.

“It's a good show... Lots of the classic stuff everyone wants to hear, with a few little gems tucked in here and there.”Joining the tour as a “special guest” will be guitarist Mick Taylor, a member of the Stones from 1969 to 1974 who played on such classic albums as “Exile on Main Street,” “Sticky Fingers” and “It's Only Rock 'n Roll.” The Stones also disclosed they would play at London's Hyde Park on July 6, almost 44 years since the veteran rockers took to the stage in the sprawling park just two days after the swimming-pool death of guitarist Brian Jones.

“Hyde Park holds such great memories for us and we can't think of anywhere better to perform to our UK fans this summer,” Jagger said.

Last month, organizers of the Glastonbury Festival in southwestern England revealed that the Stones would make their first appearance at the gigantic outdoor event on June 29.