Nirvana [ tickets ]'s Kurt Cobain idolized the Meat Puppets [ tickets ], so it should come as no surprise that former Nirvana bassist, Krist Novoselic, has joined forces with the Puppets' Curt Kirkwood to form a band. The outfit, dubbed Eyes Adrift, also includes former Sublime [ tickets ] drummer Bud Gaugh.

The new band spent much of last month recording in Austin, Texas. According to the studio, the band is slated to return there following its brief tour, which kicked off in Seattle and Portland this past week and runs through Feb. 7.

A source who saw Eyes Adrift's recent San Francisco show said that the group had a very familiar sound, and described the music as "country-tinged alternative," adding that it "sounded very much like the Meat Puppets." Kirkwood is the singer for both bands.

The group's manager said that the members are not proceeding with this project on a whim.

"They are taking this very seriously and most definitely consider themselves a real band," said manager John Phillips. "They recorded some stuff in December and broke for the holidays, then decided to take the band out on the road for a warm up tour just to feel one another out as musicians. But they all definitely think this is for real. As soon as they're off the road, they'll go back in the studio and finish the album."

Eyes Adrift marks Novoselic's latest post-Nirvana band. He formed Sweet 75 with local Seattle singer Yva Las Vegas following Nirvana's demise, releasing a self-titled debut in 1997 to little notice. Novoselic also had a brief tenure in the short-lived No WTO Combo, which also included Soundgarden's Kim Thayil and Sweet 75 bandmate Gina Mainwail. RollingStone.com reported last August about his participation in a studio jam with former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, L7's Donita Sparks and frequent Neil Young collaborator Jim Keltner.

Novolselic and Grohl are currently engaged in a legal battle against Cobain's widow for control of Nirvana's assets.

Like Novoselic, Curt Kirkwood's band was plagued with drug problems, stemming from his younger brother Cris Kirkwood's addiction to heroin. Cris Kirkwood eventually left the band, and last year, Curt revamped the Meat Puppets, releasing "Golden Lies."

Sublime also was saddled with drug problems, ending in tragedy after lead singer Brad Nowell died from a heroin overdose in 1996.