Queens of the Stone Age on a 'break'

20 March 2015

Queens of the Stone Age are now "taking a break" but haven't split, revealed bassist Michael Shuman.

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme

The musician insists the rock band - fronted by Josh Homme - are taking a much needed rest after two years on the road but has assured fans they are planning to reunite for a new album.

In an interview with Gigwise, Shuman said: "There will be future stuff with Queens, we're just taking a break since we had a long, long two years of touring. We'll take a break to do other stuff."

After completing their tour, the band did intend to head straight into the studio to record the follow-up to their 2013 album '...Like Clockwork'.

But after discussions between the five members - Homme, Shuman, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore - they made a collective decision to take some time for themselves.

Shuman added: "We were eager because we were in a good spot, having fun and the record had done really well. But we decided to take a break because we had been going so hard for so long, and we really worked on that record for a long time. It's not like we're sick of each other and don't want to do it - it's just better to step back for a second and come back once the world has had a little bit of a break from you."

Shuman is spending his time away from Queens of the Stone Age concentrating on his Mini Mansions side project.

The group - compromised of Shuman, Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford - release their second album, 'The Great Pretenders', on March 23, and the LP features Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson.