January 25, 2007 14:57

Albert Hammond Jr caught up in high speed cop chase

Strokes star in chase drama

Albert Hammond, Jr. has been involved in a high speed police chase while leaving Texas.

The Strokes guitarist, who is currently on tour promoting his debut solo album ’Yours to Keep’, was relaxing in a lounge on his tour bus with members of his band last week (January 20) when it skidded to a halt following a collision with another vehicle.

In a bulletin posted on Hammond’s Myspace page, keyboardist/guitarist Marc Philippe Eskenazi described the incident:

“It turned out that the cops had been chasing a suspect in a pickup truck in a high speed chase a la OJ Simpson since the Texas state border. It seemed that the pickup was going to get away until he came into contact with youknowwho (us).

"It appeared that since our trailer has such a wide load—though sadly no such bumper sticker yet—we proved an obstacle passed which no mere pickup truck could speed ahead! But those crazy criminals will do anything to get a laugh, won't they.

"Those knuckleheads smashed into our trailer and spun out of control, crashing into the side ramp, and awaited their vacation in the Texas State Penitentiary . Book 'em, boys!”

The police chase is the latest in a series of incidents on the tour. The band were the victims of robbery when personal luggage was stolen in Seattle, and they recently had to evacuate their tour bus following a mattress fire.

Hammond is currently opening up for Incubus in the US, and has confirmed his own headlining club tour for March, following which he will support Bloc Party on a select number of dates.

His solo tour visits:

Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe (March 2)
Portland, OR Roseland Grill (3)
Solana Beach, CA The Belly Up (5)
Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre (6)
Denver, CO Marquis Theatre (10)
Dallas, TX Gypsy Tea Room (13)
Houston, TX Meridian (14)
Atlanta, GA Roxy Theatre (17)

With Bloc Party:
Chicago, IL Congress Theatre (23)
Detroit, MI Royal Oak Theatre (24)
Toronto, ON Kool Haus (25)
Montreal, QB Metropolis (27)
Boston, MA Orpheum Theater (28)
New York, NY United Palace Theater (30/31)

Further dates, including at least one in New York City, will be announced shortly.

--By our New York staff.
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