Neil Young [ tickets ] has revealed plans for a North American tour to back the release of his forthcoming album, "Chrome Dreams II."

The two-month North American trek is set to kick off Oct. 18 in Boise, ID, two days after the new album is due in stores. Young's wife, Pegi, will be the opening act on all dates; she released her debut album last summer.

Neil Young [ tickets ]'s backing band for the tour will include Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, dobro and other instruments), Ralph Molina (drums) and Rick Rosas (bass), all of whom were on hand in Northern California last summer to help record "Chrome Dreams II."

As the tour gets warmed up, Young will host the 21st annual Bridge School Benefit [ tickets ] concerts, set for Oct. 27 and 28 in Mountain View, CA. He'll be joined on the bill by Metallica, John Mayer, Tom Waits with the Kronos Quartet, and the trio of Eddie Vedder, Flea and Jack Irons, among others.

"Chrome Dreams II" clocks in at more than an hour, and includes among its 10 tracks two epics: one 18 minutes long and another 13 minutes. Young and his "The Volume Dealers" partner Niko Bolas produced.

The original "Chrome Dreams" album was scheduled for release in 1977, but was shelved. "Unfortunately, all original documentation and art for this album was lost in a fire that destroyed Neil's Malibu home in early 1978," according to Young's website.