Red Hot Chili Peppers are on course to release their new album next March, drummer Chad Smith has revealed.

Smith told Music Radar that the band were currently half-way through recording the follow-up to 2006's 'Stadium Arcadium'.

“I think we've tracked about 20 songs already, and there's a few more left to do,” he said. "Then we'll whittle them down to make the best record.

“We always cut a lot of songs and see which ones rise and which ones fall - that's just how we like to work.”

But the drummer added that the album wouldn't be a double-LP like its predecessor.

Red Hot Chili Peppers new album will be their first to feature new guitarist Josh Klinghoffe, who has replaced John Frusciante.

(by Jason Gregory)