By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has logged some time behind the drum kit with Nine Inch Nails, which is recording its first studio album since 1999's "The Fragile."

Eagle-eyed fans spotted Grohl on Nine Inch Nails' in-studio Web cam last week, sitting behind a mixing console. His contributions are expected to appear on the Trent Reznor led act's long-awaited new album, "Bleed Through," due later this year via Interscope.

His presence was also tipped off by members of rock act the Exies, who are recording their next album at the same studio, Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Calif.

"Last week, we had a great barbecue with Queens Of The Stone Age and this week we come in to see Dave Grohl playing drums for Nine Inch Nails," the band wrote on its official Web site (http://www.theexies.com). "Is that a trip or what?! I guess Trent Reznor is going for real drums this time around. Good call, I say."

A Foo Fighters spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Grohl rose to fame as the drummer in Nirvana.

An unattributed message on Nine Inch Nails' official Web site says the band is "about to head back to New Orleans to begin work with (engineer) Alan Moulder. We're in the midst of a very inspiring recording session that has everyone thrilled. We're working on a new batch of songs Trent just wrote and we cannot wait for you to hear them."

"There are lots of surprises in store -- wish I could tell you what they are," the post continues.

"The Fragile" debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and has sold more than 875,000 copes in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was followed in February 2002 by the concert album "And All That Could Have Been, Live."

Reuters/Billboard