NEW YORK (AFP) - Two of Britain‘s most influential rock artists, Sting and Peter Gabriel, on Tuesday announced a tour of North America that will include collaborations on each other’s songs.

The 19-date “Rock Paper Scissors” tour will open June 21 in Columbus, Ohio and include headlining slots at two festivals, the Festival d‘Ete de Quebec in Quebec City and Summerfest in Milwaukee.

Gabriel and Sting, who first toured together in the 1980s to support Amnesty International, have stayed active in recent years but have focused on side projects as much as their own work.

On the tour, Gabriel and Sting will perform both separately and together on stage.

“I’m very happy that we‘re taking the chance to experiment this way. I think people will be intrigued; I certainly am,” Sting said in a statement.

Both artists fronted popular bands in the 1970s -- Gabriel was a founder of Genesis and Sting led The Police.

Gabriel in particular has focused on experimentation as a solo artist and founded Real World Records and the Womad festival to bring a greater audience to international artists.

Sting, who merged reggae into pop music with The Police, recently wrote a Broadway musical, “The Last Ship,” that had mixed commercial success.