Albert Hammond Jr.

Do you consider yourself to be a Strokes fan? Well, depending on your tolerance for bad news, you may or may not want to keep reading this post. As if it weren't disheartening enough that rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. is (allegedly) in rehab, lead singer Julian Casablancas gave an interview that seems to indicate the band is suffering through a dreaded bout of creative differences. Julian, who you'll recall is about to release his first...  

One by one, the members of the Strokes - the nattily attired New York quintet once trumpeted as indie rock’s saving grace - have been moonlighting with solo records and side projects. Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. led the charge with 2007’s underrated “Yours to Keep,’’ followed by drummer Fab Moretti’s indie-pop trio Little Joy, and bassist Nikolai Fraiture’s detour into forlorn folk as Nickel Eye.  

This week's Halloween episode was even more nonsensical than usual, so we nearly blocked out its cameo from the 1,400 year-old, anemic ghost of the Strokes' guitarist. Watch him perform "In Transit" at the opening of Chuck's speakeasy.  

Julian CasablancasTuesday, Nov. 17, 2009The Regency Ballroom(Not) better than: The Strokes, Little Joy, Albert Hammond, Jr.It has to be hard, breaking into the 2000s as the symbol of the hipsters...