It looks like 2001 with by the year of side projects as musicians from popular groups spread their wings by offering new music outside of their established bands. 

Alice in Chains� Jerry Cantrell.

Cantrell recently completed work on his second solo album, an ambitious double album called �Degradation Trip, Vol 1 and 2�. 

For the project, Cantrell teamed up with drummer Mike Bordin (Faith No More) and bassist Robert Trujillo (Ozzy Osbourne). 

In a further showing of his independence, Cartrell not only produced the album himself but also recorded it without the backing of a record company. As a result, he was able to exorcize full creative freedom on the project. 

Cantrell has yet to secure a deal with a label to distribute the CD, so no release date is available at this time. As to the future of Alice in Chains, Cantrell says that his focus is on his new band now, which will head out on the road next month with the addition of Brian Kehoe on guitar. 

Primus�s Les Claypool.

Les Claypool�s Frog Brigade will release the first of two planned live albums in March.  The first CD titled �Live Frogs � Set 1,� will be available to fans online a full month before it hits the stores in April.  The album will be issued on Claypool�s record label, Prawn Song with the online distribution being handled via the Primus online store on the ARTISTdirect Network. 

Fans will be able to log on Feb. 5th to preorder the disc that will be available exclusively at the online store starting March 5th until it hits retail in April. 

The Frog Brigade also features guitarists Todd Huth and Eenor, drummer Jay Lane, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and Skerik on saxophone. 

Foo Fighters� Dave Grohl goes metal! 

The Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is exploring the heavier side of music with his side project Probot. 

Grohl modeled the project after Santana�s highly successful Supernatural project, that featured guest musicians on different tracks throughout the album. For the Probot project, Grohl looked to the music he loved as a kid, Heavy Metal and when sent out word of the project some metal heavy weights were more than happy to take part. 

So far Grohl has collaborated with Slayer�s Tom Araya, Lemmy from Motörhead, King Diamond, and Celtic Frost�s Thomas Gabriel Warrior. Other musicians who are rumored to be in the running are Snake from Voivod, Trouble�s Eric Wagner, and Venom�s Conrad "Cronos" Lant. 

Anyone who is skeptical about Grohl�s ability to bang his head should check out his collaboration with Black Sabbath axeman Tony Iommi. The duo recorded the track �Goodbye Lament� for the Iommi album and the song was also featured on the Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows soundtrack.