RHCP Hiatus Gets Longer

02/25/09 3:39pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Red Hot Chili Peppers may extend their hiatus a few more years, according to drummer Chad Smith.

Smith told the MusicRadar website the band were on an "indefinite" hiatus in January and denied plans that they were going to split last year. But he doesn't yet know when the band will reconvene to write new music.

"We've been on break for a year or whatever," Smith said.

"A year off might have been optimistic. Maybe it'll be two years, maybe more, who knows? It's been a very positive time in our lives, actually.

"The thing is, we'll only get back together for the right reason: to play music with one another. That's the only agenda this band adheres to."

The band have been on hold for a year and all four members are keeping busy. An HBO television series called Scar Tissue, based on frontman Anthony Kiedis' childhood, is in the works. Bassist Flea has gone back to music school and guitarist John Frusciante released a new solo album titled The Empyrean last month.

Smith is in a new group called Chickenfoot with former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony and instrumental prog-rock guitarist and Coldplay nemesis Joe Satriani.

"Chickenfoot has turned out to be everything I could've hoped for," Smith told MusicRadar. "When people hear this album, they're not going to believe it's us; they're going to think it's four other guys.

"It's far exceeded my expectations and goals."

We're not sure if the same can be said for this Chickenfoot teaser video: