The infamously long wait that Guns N’ Roses fans had to endure to get Chinese Democracy may not be repeated the second time around. At least, that’s what we’re hearing from current GN’R guitarist Richard Fortus, who told the Associated Press that the band are looking to release new material some time in the next year.

“We are working on new stuff and hopefully very soon we will have new music out,” Fortus said. Bandmate DJ Ashba added that the band’s members have been recording ideas individually and passing them around to each other.

Fortus also expressed hope that the band’s upcoming residency at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas would help the band along towards making new music. “We’re going to be in Vegas all together, so hopefully during that time we’re going to be able to get in a room and start laying down some more stuff,” Fortus said.

Guns N’ Roses’ Vegas residency starts May 21st. They will be without regular bassist Tommy Stinson, who is took time off last year to reunite The Replacements. Original bassist Duff McKagan performed with GN’R on their last tour in Stinson’s stead; it is unclear if McKagan will hook up with the band in Las Vegas.