Albert Hammond Jr has discussed the future of The Strokes in a new interview.

Having played their first London show in five years at Hyde Park last month, word from inside the camp on possible new material has been varied, with Julian Casablancas recently revealing that the band are working on new music and Hammond raised doubts over their future.

Speaking to Stereogum however, Hammond said: “I’m still in the band. It was a big thing in my life, I love it very much. I don’t mind answering questions about it.”


The musician also described progress on new Strokes material as “moving very slowly”, adding: “There’s nothing I can do to speed it up. After a while, you feel drained from it because of how much I love it and care for it.”

Quizzed on whether or not he feels frustrated by primarily being seen as a member of the New York band, rather than a solo musician in his own right, Hammond said: “It would be half-assed of me to be like, ‘Nah, I don’t really care’. I care very much.

“I feel like I can be a frontman, I feel like I have good songs. It would be sad [if the Strokes didn’t continue], and I’ve had times where I’ve almost mourned the Strokes.”

Pooneh Ghana/NME

Hammond will release his new solo album ‘Momentary Masters’ on July 31. In a press release, the guitarist describes his new full-length as “a record about finding a new curiosity in life as a result of the loss of innocence that knowledge and time create”.

‘Momentary Masters’ is Hammond’s first solo album since 2008’s ‘¿Cómo Te Llama?’. It’s his third solo effort to date, with debut ‘Yours To Keep’ released in 2006.

Hammond has also scheduled shows for November, performing in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Glasgow, Portsmouth and Leicester.


Albert Hammond Jr plays the following dates:

Oxford O2 Academy 2 (November 16)

Manchester Gorilla (17)

Birmingham Hare and Hounds (19)

Leicester O2 Academy 2 (20)

Glasgow CCA (21)

Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms (23)

Bristol Fleece (24)

London Islington Assembly Hall (25)

Brighton Old Market (26)

