The Strokes speak about band’s beginnings and ‘Is This It’

Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes recently sat down with The Guardian to discuss the beginnings of the group and the processes of recording their debut album ‘Is This It’.

Joined by producer Gordon Raphael, the lead guitarist revealed he was the last member of the group to join, hired because he “looked the part, but I still needed guitar lessons.”

“From the first moment, I knew we’d be successful. Julian and I made a tape in the flat of Alone Together and Soma. When we played them in the car, they sounded really cool,” Hammond said. “I realised things were starting to happen during one show at the Luna Lounge in Manhattan.”

Gordon Raphael revealed that the group originally wanted to record ‘Is This It’ with Gil Norton, who produced albums by Pixies and Foo Fighters. “A few weeks later, he [Julian Casablancas] called. It hadn’t worked out with Gil… While recording the album, we had a visit from the band’s new US label. They said it was crappy-sounding and unprofessional, and I was ruining Julian’s voice and killing any chance the band had of a career. It was very satisfying when the album became a modern classic.”

Read the full interview with Albert Hammond Jr and Gordon Raphael on The Guardian’s website.