We now know what Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is going to do with at least part of the band’s hiatus, as it’s been revealed that he’s returned to the drumkit to play on the next Queens of the Stone Age album.
Queens leader Josh Homme confirmed the news to BBC Radio. For further proof, the band posted a mixing board photo on their Facebook page (see below) showing the knobs for Homme’s guitar and Grohl’s drums. With the addition of Grohl, that means that longtime drummer Joey Castillo has exited the band. Homme confirmed Castillo’s exit during his appearance on BBC Radio. Incidentally, Castillo joined the group following the 2002 album ‘Songs for the Deaf,’ which featured Grohl on drums. Grohl and Homme have a longtime friendship and musical connection that also included their partnership in the band Them Crooked Vultures.

Homme revealed earlier this year that the band had returned to recording after several stops and starts in recent years. The band’s sixth studio album will be the follow-up to their 2007 effort, ‘Era Vulgaris.’ The group had reportedly worked on material dating as far back as 2008, and a supposed 2011 release never came to fruition.

Though an official release date has not been announced, a new album is expected in 2013 and the group has already booked appearances at Lollapalooza Brazil and Chile and at the Download Festival.

In addition to his upcoming plans with Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl is in the process of wrapping up his ‘Sound City‘ documentary, based on the popular Los Angeles recording studio and featuring many top names in rock that have recorded there over the years.

-loudwire.com