The Cure collaborating with Ashlee Simpson

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 2 (UPI) -- The Cure was already rocking on stage when Ashlee Simpson was rocking in the cradle in Texas but now they're collaborating on an album.

It's not clear how Robert Smith, the frontman for the British alternative rock band, decided to team with the Texas-born pop rock singer, but they do have a common friend in Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, NME.com said.

"I doubt I had anything to do with it, 'cause they were friends since she was performing in Chicago," Wentz told NME.com. "But I definitely only have good things to say about Ash -- I think the collaboration could be great."

The still-untitled album will be a follow-up to Simpson's 2005 recording, "I Am Me." She is under contract with Geffen Records of Santa Barbara, Calif. Simpson also is known to be working with Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley, Chad Hugo from the Neptunes and John Legend, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The Cure's last recording effort was the concert album "Festival" in 2005.