US rocker Pete Wentz admits his band Fall Out Boy need to rediscover their creativity before they can regroup.
The punk pop group have been on an indefinite hiatus since last month, with Wentz blaming burnout.
"We lived and ate and slept and breathed Fall Out Boy for seven years," Wentz told AAP in Sydney on Monday.
"We never had a break for longer than two months.
"And that compresses you, and it compresses your creativity. I think taking a break could allow that to come back, really."
Bassist Wentz said he wanted to assure his Australian fans that he and bandmates Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley, weren't saying goodbye forever, despite rumours to the contrary.
"People have a hard time with you not giving them closure, or a definitive answer of when you're coming back," Wentz said.
"And, I can't do either, and I feel sorry for that, `cause I feel sorry for our fans because it's hard to deal with as a fan."
Fall Out Boy released their first album in 2003.
Their fifth album Folie a Deux was released in December, producing hits like America's Suitehearts and I Don't Care.
While they might not be performing and writing songs at the moment, the band have a greatest hits album Believers Never Die - Greatest Hits, to be released on November 13 - which contains a couple of new tunes as well as favourites.
"It's a thank you to our fans," Wentz said.
While on a break, Wentz is trying his hand at whatever comes his way.
Last week he switched sides to interview artists back stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs).
"It is interesting to me but I'm one of those kind of people that's interested in all kinds of things," Wentz said.
"If someone tomorrow was like 'do you want to go on a space shuttle' - sure."
Wentz, who was a guest judge on Australian Idol on Sunday, will be in Australia until later this week.
His wife - singer Ashlee Simpson and baby son Bronx - haven't joined him on this trip, due to Simpson's TV commitments, but he's looking forward to bringing them back soon.
"Something that's important to me is raising my son so he sees other cultures," Wentz said.
