Tom Petty [ tickets ] fans will have very little opportunity to catch Petty and the Heartbreakers live in the U.S. during the first half of 2003, as the group is scheduling only four stateside dates during that time.

Three of those dates are sure to sell out quickly, as they are set to take place in the 1,400-person capacity Vic Theatre in Chicago. Tickets for those shows--which are scheduled for April 14th, 16th and 17th--go on sale to the general public on Friday (3/14), and a one-day presale happens on Thursday (3/13), according to Petty's website.

Petty and the Heartbreakers' only remaining U.S. performance scheduled for this year will take place on June 28 at Milwaukee's annual Summerfest event.

A subsequent European outing is set for July, with stops planned in Germany, Italy, Austria, England, Ireland and Holland.

No word yet on whether the group plans to schedule any U.S. dates for the second half of 2003.

The upcoming tour dates are part of Petty and the Heartbreakers' ongoing support behind last October's "The Last DJ." The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Last month, the group's former bassist, Howie Epstein, died of a suspected drug overdose. Petty fired Epstein from the Heartbreakers in 2001, citing Epstein's "ongoing personal problems," according to a statement issued at the time of Epstein's dismissal.