It’s been five years, but according to bassist Mike Watt, the Stooges are back in shop with some new material. The Michigan natives never had much chart or radio success; nevertheless, their powerful influence led them to become a household name in the 60s and 70s, and you can still hear their influence today. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers reunited in 2003 and released The Weirdness in 2007, but have been pretty quiet since. 

The new material should signal some changes not only because of the five year break, but also because guitarist James Williamson will be rejoining the band. Williamson hasn’t played on a Stooges album since 1973’s Raw Power. He rejoined the band after Ron Asheton’s death in 2009.

“I think James came up with some good licks, and the way Ig fleshes them out, I’m very curious,” Watt told Rolling Stone. “But I don’t know if they have an album planned. I’m also looking at it as, ‘Whoa, maybe new songs to do at gigs.’”

The Stooges will be performing this weekend at Chicago’s Riot Fest with acts including Elvis Costello, the Descendents, Rise Against, Of Mice and Men, Dropkick Murphys, Gaslight Anthem, Awolnation and Fisbone.