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Albert Hammond JR, guitarist with The Strokes, has revealed the extent of his drug addiction, which saw him regularly mix a lethal cocktail of ketamine, cocaine and heroin.
The US rocker entered rehab in 2009, but has only now revealed the severity of his substance abuse issues, admitting he was an addict for much of his 20s.
"It was, like, oxycontin and cocaine at 24, 25, 26. and then I became [addicted to] heroin around then. So from 26, 27 'til 29. It's not so much that I wasn't in a happy place," he tells NME in their latest issue. "I was just... God knows where I was. I was just very high. That's where I was."
"I used to shoot cocaine, heroin and ketamine. All together. Morning, night, 20 times a day. You know, I was a mess," he adds. "I look back and I don't even recognise myself. I did my own thing."
Albert Hammond JR in 2008 - the year before he entered rehab
He also reveals that his drug problems reached an extent where he was unable to hide his problems from friends in the music industry who began to show concern for his wellbeing.
"I mean, you have moments when you're fine. And if someone meets you, you seem fine," he continues. "But I remember when I was showing someone music and I was wearing a short shirt and [pointing to his wrists]... there were just purple track marks all the way down here. And then they would call someone - 'Did you see Albert, he looks crazy?' That's where I learned to wear long sleeves."
