Gary Graff from Billboard.com is reporting:

CHICKENFOOT is four songs and "seven pieces of new music" into its second album, according to frontman SAMMY HAGAR. But he acknowledges there's some concern about keeping that not-so-old gang of theirs together.

The challenge is drummer Chad Smith and his regular gig with the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, who are currently writing for the follow-up to 2006's Stadium Arcadium. "Once they start recording, Chad's never going to be able to get a break," Hagar tells Billboard.com.

But Hagar says he, Smith and rest of Chickenfoot - guitarist Joe Satriani and founding VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony - are not frustrated by the situation. "We care, but at the same time [Chickenfoot] is not mandatory," Hagar explains. "It's not like we feel like, 'Hey, this is our only chance in life.' Everyone's already been there, done that. Chickenfoot is not our bread and butter, and I think that's really important."

Meanwhile, Hagar is working on an autobiography, Red, with San Francisco music journalist Joel Selvin. "I figure there's only one shot at an autobiography, and you've got to tell the story, as much as it may be painful," says Hagar, who has made two previous attempts at his memoirs. "I really believe there's a lot of people out there that really have no idea where I came from and who I really am. I've never been a press junkie, and I think that's a good thing. So I think the book is going to blow people's minds."

Read the entire interview here.

(Photo by Christie Goodwin)