Chili Peppers drummer keeps busy while band rests (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) - With his regular band and at least four side projects, Chad Smith is making his case as the hardest working man -- or at least drummer -- in show biz these days. Just dont expect any of that work to be with the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a while.

"We worked really hard on (the double-disc Stadium Arcadium) and we toured for a year-and-a-half, pretty much straight," Smith says. "So we took a look at each other in September in England, when we played our last shows, and we were like, You know what? I love you guys, but we all kinda need a break, and we said, Lets reconvene in one year."

While they still socialize at Lakers games and the like, the groups members have no touring or recording plans.

Smith is hardly looking for things to do, however; as he says, "I cant really sit still too long." Hes involved with Chickenfoot, an all-star group fronted by Sammy Hagar along with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and guitarist Joe Satriani. Hes also started Chads Bombastic Meat Bats, an instrumental group he describes as "kind of a funk, jazz odyssey thing. I dont know if its the greatest thing ever, but its fun." The troupe will be playing some April dates in Japan.

Off the rock path, Smith is working with a childrens music project called Rhythm Train with the music director at his sons school. The drummer recently met with veteran actor Dick Van Dyke about recording a rap for a future recording.

What Smith is most excited about, however, is his continuing work with Glenn Hughes, the former Deep Purple and Trapeze bassist and short-lived Black Sabbath singer. Smith has played on Hughes last four solo albums and produced the last three -- including the forthcoming "First Underground Nuclear Kitchen," which is due out in May. He also plays sporadic shows with Hughes.

"That guys amazing," Smith says of Hughes. "I just love the records hes on. I grew up on that stuff, all that early 70s British rock music. And weve just blossomed into this kind of working relationship. We met five years ago and weve been buddies ever since. I dont know why, but he trusts my musical judgment."

Reuters/Billboard