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Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr has insisted that the band will return, but that they're just 'laying low for a while'.
Speaking candidly to Rolling Stone magazine about his solo career and drug use, the conversation gravitated towards the current situation with The Strokes - after rumours that the band were working on new material to return next year.
Adamant that the band hadn't split-up or are on hiatus, he simply stated that they weren't touring at the moment in order to 'lay low'.
"Um, it's not against the fans." he said. "It's not against them. I mean, we feel that way about each other and the songs, so it's amazing to hear that fans feel the same way. I don't think that'll go away. I think it will only make it better when everything starts, you know?"
Calling the band his "brothers", Hammond Jr. stated that the band are still extremely close but following this years 'Comedown Machine' and the end of the RCA contract they need to reconfigure their direction: "In so many ways, yeah. I think we're still playing with that idea."
Watch Albert Hammond Jr's video for 'St Justice' below
When asked whether the band would tour again he likened the band to a machine starting up, that once the gears are moving it was something that would be impossible to stop.
"People like watching us live," continued Hammond. "I just think when that machine starts up, it's a Titanic you know, so it moves slowly so you just, you want to be pointing in the right direction, and when you've done something for 12 years in a certain way, you need to re-programme everything. And that takes time to eventually get around and figure out, and since we realized that we actually have a little bit of time and a little bit of wiggle room."
Talking directly of the rest of his band members Hammond Jr. said: "Julian can foresee his stuff with Cult [Records], which makes him creatively very happy, which means he's going to write cool songs. But other people spend time with their kids and do music and Fab is doing some amazing artwork. And I get to do this and it's just wonderful. You get a little bit of
Meanwhile, Albert Hammond Jr is set to embark on a solo UK and EU tour in December. The dates in full are:
December 2 - Paris, FR Maroquinerie
December 3 - Amsterdam, NL Bitterzoet
December 5 - Brighton, UK The Haunt
December 7 - Glasgow, UK Broadcast
December 8 - Manchester, UK Night & Day Café
December 9 - Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
December 10 - London, UK XOYO
December 12 - Milan, IT Magnolia
December 13 - Rome, IT Circolo Degli Artisti
December 14 - Bologna, IT Covo
Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit Gigwise gig tickets.
Below: The making of Is This It by The Strokes
