Cold Chisel have drafted in American multi-instrumentalist Charley Drayton to help record new material following the death of drummer Steve Prestwich in January.
The Australian rockers announced yesterday that they are ready to return to the studio with a view to completing their first album since 1998's The Last Wave Of Summer with Drayton on drums.
Cold Chisel plan a major re-release of their back catalogue over winter including the first digital release of their recorded works.
Confirming recording sessions for late March and June, Cold Chisel keyboardist Don Walker painted a tough few months but said Prestwich, who died from a brain tumour on January 16 aged 56, would be pleased the band is moving on.
"We'd already recorded a number of new songs with Steve prior to his passing plus all five of us have written songs over the summer with the intention of recording more this year," Walker said.
"Hopefully Charley can help us complete the work we began together. Steve was totally into everything we'd been planning for 2011 so while the last few months have been very difficult to deal with, we all feel that he would want us to complete the plans we made together."
Perhaps best known to Australian music fans for his work with The Divinyls and Chrissy Amphlett, Drayton has also played drums for some of the world's leading musicians including Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Simon & Garfunkel, the B-52s and Neil Young.
While he is a friend of Cold Chisel's remaining members - Walker, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss and Phil Small - the band say their earnings will continue to be split five ways, with Prestwich's share going to his children.
Cold Chisel are planning a major re-release of their back catalogue over winter including the first digital release of their recorded works.
"As part of that we will also include some great things from back in the day that haven't been released before," said Barnes in a statement issued from the band's label Warner Music.
"And if these new tunes come together in the way that we're hoping we will make a plan for their release sometime later."
AAP