Candlebox flickers with new songs, tour dates

Reunited rock band Candlebox will preview new material during a US tour that kicks off this week.

The group will launch the trek in its hometown of Seattle June 8, and then head across the country and back through mid-August. Details are listed below.

Candlebox has been busy writing material for its new album, which is due for release sometime this year. The band is also planning to release a live concert DVD titled "Alive in Seattle" this summer, according to a posting at its MySpace page.

The rockers reappeared on the touring scene last summer with their original lineup and released "The Best of Candlebox," which features 15 cuts culled from their three studio albums.

Candlebox formed in 1991 and rose to fame (despite being dogged by grunge purists) with its 1993 self-titled debut, which scored multi-platinum status on the strength of hits including "You," "Change," "Cover Me" and "Far Behind." The success earned the band a headlining slot on 1994's Woodstock festival.

After releasing 1995's critically acclaimed "Lucy" and 1998's "Happy Pills," the group disbanded, partially citing a distaste for music business politics.

In late 2005, over a cup of coffee, guitarist Peter Klett convinced singer Kevin Martin that it was time to regroup.

"So many years had passed; we had all had time to work on other projects and explore different styles of songwriting that we couldn't with Candlebox, do some growing up, and just get over whatever issues had driven us apart," Klett said in a bio posted at the band's website