While much is made of the decade-plus-and-growing span between Tool albums, one of Maynard James Keenan's other groups has gone quite a while between albums as well. But A Perfect Circle founder Billy Howerdel is hoping to remedy that in 2017.

It's been six years since the band's last U.S. tour and 13 years since they last released a studio album, but Howerdel says the band is already laying the groundwork to change that. The band has already announced a 21-date tour set to launch on April 7 in Las Vegas and he's hoping to use that run to jump start some new music.

Speaking with Billboard, Howerdel cautiously stated, "We’re not promising anything, but I have every intention of doing my best to have us playing some new tracks during this run -- with the idea that new music is coming very soon after."

He continues, "It felt similar to me to the very first thing we ever did. When Maynard and I first started talking about working together in 1999, we collaborated on two songs, and the idea hatched to, 'Let’s do a live show,' and let that fire under our ass be what’s going to propel us to finish this music ... And we approached it the same way this year. I said, 'We’re gonna do shows,' and with those shows there’s the hope of having some new music to go along with the shows. So let’s let that be the thing that puts us in a panic mode."

While Keenan may be the most high profile member of the band, Howerdel says other projects have also factored into the long delay. The guitarist had his Ashes Divide band, while A Perfect Circle regulars James Iha and Matt McJunkins have also been involved in other projects off and on since A Perfect Circle's last album. "There’s so many scheduling things between all of us," says the guitarist. "Maynard’s got a lot of projects going on, and it felt like a few years ago it was going to happen, but this is just the way the schedules lined up. But I’m always excited to get the machine back up and going."

So let the dates begin and start getting excited about what may follow. A Perfect Circle launches their spring tour April 7 in Las Vegas. Dates can be found here.

10 Weirdest Maynard James Keenan Onstage Outfits

12 Unforgettable Maynard James Keenan Moments

More From Q 105.7