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Chad Smith gives us the scoop on new Chickenfoot and Chili Peppers albums (© JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT/epa/Corbis)

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[laughs] "I'm just kidding with you. [pauses] I think the first album reflected the energy of four guys getting together and playing live and enjoying being around one another. That's all great, and that's what you need in a band. But for the next one...I'd like to see a little more crafting of the music, which I think is happening.

"We have four songs that we've been jamming on at Sammy's place. One is kind of Zeppelin-y. And then there's this other really cool song called Come Closer that Joe wrote on piano but he's now playing on guitar -"

Joe was telling me about that one.

"Oh, so you are going to tell me what me said! See, I knew I could get it out of you. [laughs] Then Sammy's got a song that I'd call kind of Humble Pie-ish - a very happening number, I think. So we're on our way. Some of these songs might fall by the wayside, but they're starting points. We're at a really cool place now."

About the song Come Closer, Joe said something that really struck me, that he felt it could present a side of Sammy that people haven't seen or heard before - more introspective.

"I'd agree with that. You know, we've all heard Sammy over the years doing his thing. Face it: he's a larger-than-life guy, and that's what lead singers are supposed to be. But I think he's definitely capable of growing in the context of this band, of...yeah, showing more personal sides. We offer him a wide canvas. Whatever he wants to do can definitely work. That's the great thing about Chickenfoot: it's one giant stew of creativity. [laughs] How's that for poetry?"

"That's the great thing about Chickenfoot: it's one giant stew of creativity" Chad Smith on the next Chickenfoot album

It's not bad. So even though Chickenfoot have been writing and demoing, the plan is to record in the fall, once you're done with the Chili Peppers album?

"That's right. The next Chickenfoot record is gonna kick ass, but at the moment, as you can imagine, my main focus is on the Chili Peppers. I'm definitely in Chili Peppers mode."

You're getting set to make the record soon, right?

"Real soon. Since last October we've been working on things, and probably in a few weeks we'll be going into the studio with Rick Rubin. Pre-production will take a few months, but I'd say by July we'll be laying down real tracks. We have a lot of material, probably about 20 songs."

Has everything calmed down in the band? There was so much attention to John Frusciante leaving again - understandably so.

"Yeah, things have calmed down. Things were…as you know...they were a little pressurized last year. We were sad to see John leave the band, but he has to do what he wants and follow his path."

How has Josh Klinghoffer been working out?

"We're all thrilled to have Josh be part of the group now. He's been a friend of ours for a long time. He's played with us, he's played with John - he's a real natural fit.

"Josh is a real creative force. He's going to play guitar, he's going to write music, he's going to sing and play keyboards. The guy is amazing. And the great thing is, we didn't have to go through that whole dating phase that happens sometimes and winds up weird. It's not like we held these open auditions and got in somebody who we had to figure out. We know what Josh can do and we're excited."

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