[lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Blink 182[/lastfm] are writing new songs to follow up last year’s Neighborhoods album but Travis Barker’s online nude picture scandal isn’t going away anytime soon.

Drummer Travis Barker became the latest unfortunate celebrity to have his private parts leaked on the internet and he’s now threatening the website, MediaTakeOut.com, with legal action.

Barker’s lawyer has sent a cease and desist letter to the site yet the racy pictures are still posted, indicating this could get a lot worse before it gets any better for the drummer.

But you know what they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

According to bassist Mark Hoppus, Blink 182 has been writing new material for the follow up album (which should definitely spark some added interest given Barker’s recent public humiliation).

However, the songwriting is still in its infancy and they’re not too far along in the process.

In the past few days Hoppus has said:

“It’s really too early to tell. At the moment, all I’ve got is a bunch of chord progressions and ideas. I don’t have anything that’s solidified into what I’d call I song, it’s more me playing my guitar at my house and coming up with melodies and little ideas.”

Given the timeline of their schedule which includes a European tour in the summer, it’s likely the band wouldn’t release their new album until late 2012, possibly early 2013.

Whenever it is released it should definitely garner some extra attention in the media in light of Barker’s situation.