Rock legends join forces for secret album

Some of the coolest rock legends have collaborated to make an album together.

The Stooges frontman Iggy Pop and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age have written and recorded the album in secret with their own funds.

The first taste fans will get of what the enigmatic duo have come up with will be on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Thursday night (Friday AEST).

The nine-song album, called Post Pop Depression, is set for release in March and deals with the theme of remaining relevant after a long career, says Pop.

"In American life, because it's so hypercompetitive, what happens when you're finally useless to everyone except hopefully not yourself?" he told the New York Times.

"What happens then? And can you continue to be of use to yourself? I had a kind of character in mind. It was sort of a cross between myself and a military veteran."

Pop, who had the urge to write something else after spending long hours at the beach in Miami with his wife since his last album, reached out to Homme.

It was a huge opportunity to Homme, who had been a fan for years.

"He is the last one of the one-of-a-kinds," Homme said.

"This is a much-deserved victory lap for a man who's not sure if he won. But he did. He may have tunnelled underground for lots of that, but he still got to the destination."

Pop and Homme say they will perform the album in small venues on a limited tour.

"There won't be hardly any shows, and they won't be in big places, and you won't be able to get a ticket," Homme said.

"So almost everyone won't see it. It will be like trying to catch smoke in your hands. And that makes it even better. It will be special, and it will be over in the blink of an eye."

The album will be released on March 18.

- AAP