Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has enjoyed unexpected success with Chickenfoot, but the classic rock ride is about to take a detour as the moonlighting stickman has been called back to active duty. That’s right, after a two-year break, the Peppers — singer Anthony Kiedis, guitiarist John Frusciante, bassist Flea and Smith — plan to start work this October on the follow-up to 2005′s hugely successful Stadium Arcadium.
Smith talked about the return in a recent Billboard.com interview where he also noted that the band will essentially be starting from scratch. Flea and Frusciante might have a few musical ideas, but as is the norm, the group will get together to jam and let everything come naturally.
The group, sans Frusciante, was last seen together in public at the fifth annual MusiCares ceremony in May. The event honored Kiedis with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his support for the MusiCares MAP Fund, which helps addicts cope with addiction and recovery.