The Strokes at Isle of Wight: “New York City Cops” + “The Modern Age” (Video)
Shaky footage from their pseudo-secret warm-up gig proved underwhelming, but Venison is long gone, ladies and gents: The Strokes are back. After almost four years out of the spotlight, Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond, Jr., Fab Moretti, Nick Valensi, and Nikolai Fraiture headlined England’s Isle of Wight Festival tonight, burning through a 16-track set, which included breakout hit “Is This It,” “Someday,” “Reptilia,” “Soma,” and loads more. Thankfully, some top-shelf video coverage hit YouTube this time around…
Professionally filmed for TV (complete with closeups and whatnot), watch the Strokes tear up “New York City Cops” and “The Modern Age,” their set’s first two cuts below. **Update: “Reptilia” has been added to the collection:
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The Strokes´ Albert Hammond Jr. Goes to Rehab?
In a recent rumor post on Gawker, Chris Wilson reported that “serious buzz” was spreading that Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. had been checked into rehab at the urging of his bandmates. A request for confirmation was not returned by Hammond’s reps and the rumor stayed, well, a rumor. Consequence of Sound reports today, however, that the story was true, according to UK rag Mail Online.
“Agy [Agyness Deyn] and Albert had a big row before she came to London for Fashion Week,” a source said. “He’s really cut up and his bandmates checked him into rehab last week.” Also, the Strokes were allegedly forced to stop work on their 4th LP while Hammond seeks help for substance abuse.
I’ll leave that question mark in the headline for now, as I don’t really trust some sites with the whole “a source said” routine, but we’ll update as soon as we get official confirmation.