"The record is being completed. Other people are putting their final little touches on things, and then it goes to mix," he explained to Billboard. "My physical presence wasn't really needed until September, so that's why I'm getting out and doing some shows I've got my parts all done."

While he eludes that the album will see a release this year, Stinson was no committal about the band hitting the road, "You know, I'm just gonna say, in September, that's when I've got to be back. All I know is that we're gonna finish the record up, get it out, and I've got some time on my hands to do some other s***."

Stinson, who is best known for his work with the Replacements, will take advantage of the time off from GNR to tour behind the music that he recently recorded for his solo album. 

He recorded this new material earlier this year in a studio owned by Charles Thompson, who is better known as Frank Black.  "Basically, I had an opportunity fall into my lap that I couldn't refuse. I've been pals with Charles for a number of years, and The Catholics went on tour for the months of March and April, and basically Charles said, 'you can use my studio and all my gear and my place while I'm gone and make a record if you want.'"

"I'd been sitting on a bunch of songs for a number of years -- there's two of them that are probably 10 years old, at least," Stinson told Billboard. "So, I just went in and recorded them using his stuff and it worked out great."

He called on a lot of his friends to lay down tracks for the album including GNR bandmates Richard Fortus and keyboardist Dizzy Reed, Josh Freese from A Perfect Circle as well as Josh’s brother Jason, and Dave Philips from the Catholics. 

No word yet on a release date for Stinson’s solo disc but he will play several shows in the coming months including a show tonight (6/12) in LA at Largo and the Mercury Lounge in New York on July 1st.  

Billboard reports that he also has a three-show tour in England planed this summer to be followed by a three-week trek across the East Coast and Midwest in August. 

As for the release of “Chinese Democracy” this year, no official word has been made so we will have to wait and see if Stinson’s prediction will come true. 

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