February 14, 2006 10:00

The Strokes 'attacked in London'

Band have a spot of bother

Photo Gallery: The Strokes
Photo: Pieter M Van Hattem

The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr has revealed the band had a less than friendly welcome when they first came to Britain.

The group, who recently declared the UK their second home, explained that when they arrived in the country for debut LP 'Is This It' people were as keen to fight them as praise them.

“When we first came out, there were a lot of people, especially in England, who wanted to fight us,” Hammond Jr told Giant magazine.

“We had to get security because people would try to start serious fights, like bottle us in the head," he added. "There was a fight that broke out once. Nikolai (Fraiture) and Fab (Moretti) were getting into a car and this guy hit Nikolai in the head with a bottle. The two of them definitely stuck together. The security guards were like, ‘What?!’”

However the guitarist added that now things have settled down, The Strokes actually enjoy their fame.

“We’re at probably the best stage we can be. We can play to thousands of people and still walk around and do everything. If I’m recognized I get quite shocked,” admitted Hammond Jr.

Explaining that the benefits of fame were the ability to get restaurant bookings, The Stroke added that he still gets starstruck.

“We were just at a house party. I felt so insignificant,” he said. “Michael Stipe was there. Al Sharpton, Tim Robbins, Conan O’Brien. It was crazy.”