The Strokes Thought Original Record Label Offer Was 'A Joke'

The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr has revealed that the band originally thought an offer to sign to independent record label Rough Trade was “a joke.”

Speaking to XFM, Hammond Jr said the band initially got a call from the label's boss Geoff Travis – who expressed an interest in signing them - when they were in Nwe York.

"Some guy from Britain calls you and says he wants to sign you? You're only nineteen [years old]...of course you think its all a joke,” he said.

The band eventually signed to the label at the turn of the century, a decision Hammond Jr said they made because Rough Trade promised the band longevity.

"Obviously we wanted to have someone who had money to push the ideas that we wanted but at the same time we were never about getting the biggest advance, it was about the people that we saw that we could create a career with,” he said.

As previously reported, The Strokes are expected to re-enter the studio next year to record their fourth album.

(by Jason Gregory)

 The Strokes, Slash, Pete Doherty Join T In The Park Festival 2011 Line-Up (19.04.2011)

 The Strokes Joined By Elvis Costello At New York Gig (02.04.2011)

 The Strokes, Friendly Fires, The Vaccines For Radio 1 Big Weekend 2011 (31.03.2011)

 The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr Reveals Details About His 'Hardcore' Drug Problem (29.03.2011)

 The Strokes To Start Work On 'Angles' Album Follow-Up In April (25.03.2011)

 The Strokes To Knock Adele Off Number One Spot With 'Angles'? (24.03.2011)

 My Chemical Romance, The Strokes, Muse To Play Reading And Leeds Festival 2011 (22.03.2011)

 The Strokes Unveil 'Angles' At Free SXSW Show (18.03.2011)

 The Strokes To Release Another New Album This Year? (16.03.2011)

 The Strokes Stream New Album 'Angles' Online (15.03.2011)

 The Strokes' Julian Casablancas Admits Doubts Over New Album 'Angles' (10.03.2011)