Drummer CHAD SMITH Says He Is 'Fine' With Being Replaced For CHICKENFOOT's Upcoming Tour

October 26, 2010

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS/CHICKENFOOT drummer Chad Smith tells Billboard.com that he is expecting to do some recording with CHICKENFOOT in January for the band's second album, but he says going on the road to support it is unlikely for him due to the CHILI PEPPERS' anticipated touring schedule. But he's OK with the idea of CHICKENFOOT finding another drummer to occupy his chair for live dates.

"They have to," says Smith. "I can't [tour], and they know it. We just want to make a great record, and when it comes time to tour they can get somebody they want to play with. It's fine with me. There's a bunch of people that always call me and say, 'Hey, I hear you're not doing CHICKENFOOT. I want to do it.' So they'll find somebody good."

In a recent interview with MusicRadar.com, CHICKENFOOT guitarist Joe Satriani said he had a few replacements in mind for Chad Smith already. Satriani said, "Were Chad not able to be in the band because of the CHILI PEPPERS, I think it would be fun to get somebody really outrageous like Tommy Lee. He's a great drummer, a lot of fun and a crazy personality. We've had some guys sit in from time to time. Some names that have been thrown around are (Paul McCartney drummer) Abe Laboriel Jr. and (LED ZEPPELIN drummer) Jason Bonham — they'd be really great."

CHICKENFOOT frontman Sammy Hagar told The Pulse of Radio that he and Smith have a chemistry that's hard to duplicate. "Him and I, the way we bounce off each other, we make the whole world go round," he said. "And it's not on a creative level, it's just really on a personality level and the way it creates an energy within the band and it makes like a carnival ride. And without Chad I'm not sure we have that."

CHICKENFOOT's self-titled debut disc came out in June 2009 and was certified gold for sales of more than 500,000 copies.

Smith and the CHILI PEPPERS have not released an album since 2006's "Stadium Arcadium". The band parted ways with guitarist John Frusciante last year, replacing him with Josh Klinghoffer, and are working on their 10th studio effort now.

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