From The Professor's Page - M.I.A. Bands, or "Now where they at?"

On a bleak winter's day I profile five bands who have been missing in action for too long for my liking. Obviously there are many more that fit this description but these five main offenders are of particular prominence and each will make my day when they finally announce what they have been working on. Without further ado, Professor Ricardo presents: MIA, or “Now where they at?”

Queens of the Stone Age

For years on end (how many now? Five?) we have been waiting to hear from Queens of the Stone Age after Era Vulgaris, one of our generations best rock and roll bands. First came rumours of another series of the legendary Desert Sessions, Josh Homme's musical playground and a think-tank of sorts for future Queens material, but so far nothing has come of it. Then we got the side-project treatment with the cool as fuck Them Crooked Vultures album in 2009. This was allegedly the cause of the delay between albums. So here we are, three years later, and no new album. Not even a second TCV album which was originally due out in 2010. Mr Homme, you owe us two kickass albums. I'm a patient man but even I have my limits.

Modest Mouse

Between 2000 and 2007 Modest Mouse were on an enviable roll. They released three albums (The Moon & Antarctica, Good News For People Who Like Bad News, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank) – each arguably better than the previous – and made the treacherous transaction from indie darlings to touching upon mainstream exposure. Then in 2010 we were drip-fed an amazing revelation that would turn the world of Modest Mouse on its head: they were collaborating with Outkast's Big Boi on a new album. Big Boi went as far as to say that Modest Mouse were one of the best, funkiest bands on the planet. Mind blown! Its been oh so quiet since then but that one tidbit of information will sustain us for a long time if the outcome is even half as awesome as it sounds on paper.

Franz Ferdinand

“Franz Ferdinand” I hear you say, “Really?”. Indeed! I thoroughly enjoyed their debut album, was a little puzzled about the second, and got back on the boat for the third. They make fun, quirky, uptempo records that are easy to just throw on and enjoy. A few years ago in an interview singer Alex Capranos said that he regretted the build up to that third album, Tonight, in the way that they were feeding their fans a constant string of pointless updates that only served to build expectations for it to a ridiculous level. This time around the boys from Glasgow are keeping tight lipped until they have any actual news to tell us. Godspeed, fellas.

One Day As A Lion

Former / current Rage Against The Machine vocalist Zack De La Rocha unleashed his official solo debut, One Day As A Lion, as a five-track EP four years ago. It was raw, hard-hitting, angry, and had former Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore on stickman duty. What more could we want? How about an actual album. Five songs was a great start but it was also a cruel tease. It has been over 10 years since De La Rocha's last full length album, this is getting ridiculous.

Tool

Barely a month has gone by since I started working in record stores in late 2006 that someone hasn't either asked me about or spread rumours about the next Tool record. Obviously Maynard's involvement with his Puscifer project will slow the whole process down, but Puscifer is damned good in its own right. What more can I say really? It would be easy to rant and rave on the matter but I trust the band's creative processes to know that when something does arrive, it will be worth the wait.Waiting: commence.