The Strokes still striving

The Strokes don’t feel they are successful. The ‘New York City Cops’ hitmakers – whose three albums have made the top five in charts across the world – insist they haven’t yet “made it” and still want to strive to do better.

Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. said: “I don’t feel we’ve made it in the way that bands were in the 80s. The way I see it is we’re still struggling to get there.

“In a way we’re the biggest underground band. I don’t feel we are in any mainstream whatsoever. Maybe slightly in the UK, but not really. Everywhere else we’re known and it’s awesome, but there’s still things to try and reach and try and do.”

The group are currently working on their long-awaited fourth album and Albert admits the positive reception they received for their greatest hits set at the recent Isle of Wight festival has spurred them on further.

He added: “You play in front of people and they give you a certain confidence and a certain, ‘We’ve done this now’. That excites me to be able to go back to the studio after all this. You’re a little more sure about your position.”