Queens Of The Stone Age are currently "taking a break" but have not split, bassist Michael Shuman has revealed.
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.
Queens Of The Stone Age are on a ‘break’
