Cold Chisel return with new drummer

Cold Chisel have drafted in a new drummer.

The Australian band, who are best known for hits such as 'Khe Sanh' and 'My Baby', asked US musician Charley Drayton to help them record new material after drummer Steve Prestwich died from a brain tumour in January.

Keyboardist Don Walker told AAP: "We'd already recorded a number of new songs with Steve prior to his passing, plus all five of us have written songs over the summer with the intention of recording more this year.

"Hopefully Charley can help us complete the work we began together. Steve was totally into everything we'd been planning for 2011, so while the last few months have been very difficult to deal with, we all feel that he would want us to complete the plans we made together."

Drayton has previously worked for The Divinyls, Chrissy Amphlett, Simon and Garfunkel and Keith Richards.