Fratellis Frontman Forms New Band

Fratellis frontman Jon Fratelli has a new project called The Codeine Breakfast Club.

Strangely enough, Fratelli (real name John Lawler) apparently doesn't perform in the band, but writes all of their songs. The U.K.'s The Sun tabloid describes the group's music as "light years from The Fratellis' thundering stadium rock." An unnamed source describes their material as "a lot less aggressive" than The Fratellis' songs, with a "smoky, late-night feel."

Though The Codeine Breakfast Club's MySpace page says the band members are "secret," The Sun reports that Lou Hickey is their singer.

"The Fratellis were bruised by the reception [that last year's Here We Stand] got and have decided to step back from the band for the time being," the source told The Sun.

"But Jon wanted to keep busy. He's admired Lou for a long time. He's always had the idea of working with her but not acted on it 'til now."

Fratelli told Scotland's Daily Record newspaper earlier this month that he wanted to work with other people after bassist Barry Fratelli (real name Barry Wallace) said he wanted to take a break.

In a later interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Jon Fratelli mentioned a project that sounded like it could be The Codeine Breakfast Club.

"I've started something up, just another band with a bunch of people from Glasgow and a singer that I've been writing some songs with," he told the network, saying it sounded completely different from The Fratellis.

The Fratellis only have one gig on their itinerary at the moment: Island Records' 50th anniversary show at London, England's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on May 27.

Check out Jen White's video interview with Jon Fratelli here.