Chad Smith Hands Off Chickenfoot Drumsticks to Kenny Aronoff

Chad Smith sure is one busy guy. The Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer recently has been moonlighting with Chickenfoot -- his supergroup with former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, plus guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani -- but the upcoming release of a new Chili Peppers album means he needs to take a break from the ‘Foot.

And with Chickenfoot gearing up to release their own new album, 'III,' and a promotional tour likely to follow, the drum stool cannot be left empty. So Smith has tapped longtime John Mellencamp stickman Kenny Aronoff to handle drumming duties while he's away with the Peppers.

“I’ve got bills to pay, I’ve gotta go to work,” says Smith in a video post (see below) on Chickenfoot’s official website. “I’ve got my day job to go to . . . [so] I’m gonna hand over the sticks to Kenny, but it’s not permanent, it’s just for a little bit.”

Hagar says Aronoff was selected personally by Smith to be his replacement. "Chad picked him because he said Kenny's just like him," Hagar explained to Billboard. "He beats his drum set to death. He doesn't play them. He beats them to death. At the end of every show you have to buy a new drum set for these guys. We need that power."

The Chili Peppers album, 'I'm With You,' drops Monday (Aug. 29), while Chickenfoot's 'III' is due Sept. 27. And for the record, no, Smith's day job is not starring in Hollywood blockbusters like 'Old School,' 'Elf' and 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.' It's playing drums for RCHP, we promise.

Watch Chad Smith Hand Over His Chickenfoot Drumsticks to Kenny Aronoff