Fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers won’t have to wait another five years to get their hands on the band’s next album. Drummer Chad Smith says that the guys will begin working on their 11th studio album sometime in the middle of next year.

"We’re playing up until April of next year and then we’re gonna take a little break and then we’ll start writing songs,” Smith tells ABC News Radio.  “We’re all re-energized and [guitarist] Josh [ Klinghoffer ] is playing better every day and we’re more connected as a band now obviously through time and playing.”

Speaking about the band’s current I’m With You tour, Smith added that he’s happy about RHCP’s recent decision to sell MP3 downloads of all their concerts on their website.  “I think we’re a really, really explosive live band so to document those shows is great,” explains the drummer.  “Mistakes, they’re on there...but we take chances.  We take musical risks and that’s what I want to see out of an artist and out of a musician.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio