Red Hot Chili Peppers Extend Hiatus

[Brian Damage]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are considering doubling their year-long hiatus to allow bassist Flea to complete his music studies.

Drummer Chad Smith revealed all about the group's break plans on website MusicRadar.com last year and now he's using the same site to announce the hiatus may be extended for another year.

He says, "I think, when we're all ready to play again, when we feel like it's time to be the Chili Peppers again, we'll do it. You can't force anybody to play who doesn't want to. I'm not naming names. I'm just saying we all have to feel that the time is right to get it together. A year off might have been optimistic. Maybe it'll be two years, maybe more, who knows...? We'll only get back together for the right reason - to play music with one another."

And while Flea continues his studies at the University of California, his band mates are far from idle - Smith will debut his new super-group Chickenfoot with ex-Van Halen stars Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony and guitar great Joe Satriani this spring and guitarist John Frusciante is promoting his new solo album, The Empyrean, which features guest appearances from Flea and Johnny Marr.