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Despite many statements to the contrary, it sounds like Slipknot is preparing to make a new album—their first without deceased bassist Paul Gray. Drummer Joey Jordison told Billboard that the band has already begun working on a next record, although there is no timetable on when it would be completed or released.

“It’s already in motion,” Jordison said of the album. “It’s definitely exciting. It’s a little emotional, of course, but I think it’s going to be really, really cool and I think it’s gonna be a really, really great record because everyone’s really involved in the process.”

The plan is for Slipknot to reunite in the studio during the first half of 2011 and, according to Jordison, they’ve already been demoing new tracks. Although the group is still saddened by the loss of Gray, they hope to move forward and make a record that reflects their current state of mind. “It’s going to be a little interesting,” Jordison said. “But I think it’s gonna be a healing process for all of us. Slipknot is not going anywhere. We’re a family, and losing a family member sucks. You can’t help that, but you need to move on, and I think that what we’re gonna do might be the most powerful thing that we’ve ever created.”

Don’t get your hopes up about a new Green Day album showing up any time soon. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has signed on to star in the band’s Broadway adaptation of American Idiot for 50 more performances at New York’s St. James Theatre. Armstrong previously appeared in the stage show for a week last September and boosted the musical’s box office take by a whole lot so it makes sense that he would return for three more extended stays.

Armstrong will appear as St. Jimmy in the show on Jan. 1-9, Jan. 18-30 and Feb. 10-27, taking over for original cast member Tony Vincent whose final performance will be Dec. 30. According to Billboard, when Armstrong appeared in the show in September the box office took in over $1 million ,while last week the show grossed $600,000 in total. Ticket sales went up significantly when Armstrong appeared, with that week sold at a 93.4 percent capacity as a opposed to its usual 50 percent. Sounds like a good incentive to have him return!

Snoop Dogg is releasing a new song today— and it’s in honor of Prince William’s bachelor party. The rapper will unveil “Wet” this afternoon at the very Snoop-ish time of 4:20 PST and, according to the press release, the track is not only the second single from Snoop’s forthcoming album Doggumentary Music, but also “an anthem made for Prince William’s bachelor party and all bachelor parties around the world to follow.”

If your first thought is “what?!” we’re with you. Snoop explains: “When I heard the royal family wanted to have me perform in celebration of Prince William’s marriage, I knew I had to give them a little something. ’Wet’ is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin’.”

Rarely do fans get to be involved in the creative process of an album. Mostly, finished songs show up, get judged and either become hits or are largely disregarded. But Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump, whose debut solo disc Soul Punk will drop in February, is giving his fans a chance to voice their opinions on his music before the record is completed.

Stump posted a note on his website yesterday, along with links to two versions of his new track “Spotlight.” Stump wrote, “I recorded two separate versions of ‘Spotlight’ and after months I still can’t decide which one should go on the record. If you’ve got a minute, please take a listen and let me know which one you prefer.”

After three years, two full-lengths under his own name, one alongside M. Ward and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James in Monsters Of Folk, as well as a brief reunion by his teenage-angst act Desaparecidos, Conor Oberst has announced that Bright Eyes will finally be releasing their seventh full-length on February 15. The People’s Key is the follow-up to Cassadaga and in order to support the album, the group will be performing at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on March 9 as well as London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 23.

The group—whose core is composed of Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott—recorded the album at their own studio in Omaha, Nebraska, where the disc was produced by longtime knob twiddler/collaborator Mogis. Of course, in typical Bright Eyes form, the disc also features contributions from Now It’s Overhead’s Andy LeMaster, Cursive’s Matt Maginn, Autolux’s Carla Azar, The Faint’s Clark Baechle and more.