There has been rumours of a new Chic album for several years now, but Nile Rodgers has finally confirmed that the disco band will release their first album in 25 years in 2017.

The follow-up to 1992's 'Chic-ism' is called 'It's About Time', and as Rodgers explained in a note on his website, it was originally scheduled for release in 2015 before being pushed back twice.

He said that having so many musical icons die in 2016 meant that " I couldn't release an album about the joy of life in A Year of So Many Deaths", so the album will instead be released in the year of the band's 40th anniversary - which is also the 40th anniversary of the iconic Studio 54 nightclub.

"In 2017, we will pay homage to the club that put us on the international map by doing a series of concerts, afterparties, VIP Packages, films and singles," he wrote, "then drop the full album along with a BIG SURPRISE!"

It is believed that Irish electronic musician/producer Krystal Klear features in a production capacity on the album, possibly on the same track that features singer Michael McDonald.