The Vines were slated to begin recording their third album in Sydney on Monday.

Singer and guitarist Craig Nicholls has written more than 10 songs and hopes to pump that number up to 20 before settling on a final list.

"I've heard a good deal of them and it's going to be a killer album," Vines drummer Hamish Rosser told me.

"I've always had faith in (Nicholls') songwriting. It's the one thing he does better than most people.

I patched a call to Nicholls' father, Terry, who said his son was in an 'upbeat' and 'creative' frame of mind.

"He's not telling us a lot (about the songs), as he likes to keep things close to his chest, but I've heard a few and they sound promising."

Rosser is currently playing with spoof hair-metal band Bigphallica and is considering other offers.

Mick Hart rang me this week wanting to contact Rosser about playing some gigs in Hart's band, Monkey Boy.

Nicholls' suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a condition that causes some sufferers to feel uncomfortable in public situations, and it is unlikely that the Vines will tour again.

"I'm committed to The Vines, and it is my first priority, but (with Nicholls' condition) there's not much of a touring future for us," Rosser says.

"A doctor has said being on the road is one of the worst environments for a person like Craig."

Meanwhile, The Vines' bassist Patrick Matthews has been playing with a local band, Youth Group.

One source told me that Matthews is no longer a member of The Vines.

Rosser said: "I want (Patrick) to continue playing in The Vines, but I don't know what his decision will be."

One of my spies saw Nicholls hanging out with a woman in a park in Oatley recently. Another tells me the talented, self-described pothead quit the wacky weed about two months ago.