The Strokes

The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas talks to Kim Taylor Bennett about being inspired by Oscar Wilde Discuss this article

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Minor strokes

Casablancas is not the only member of The Strokes to venture outside the band. Some of the others have kept their hands in, too…

Albert Hammond, Jr
The man with the greasy perm was the first to step away from the band with his highly acclaimed 2006 album Yours to Keep. Variously described as ‘Diet Strokes’ and ‘the best record The Strokes should have released’, the album benefited from Sean Lennon’s helping hand and owed a lyrical debt to The Velvet Underground. Follow-up album ¿Cómo Te Llama?, recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City, fared less well, though there’s enough talent here to suggest his solo career might be worth keeping an eye on in the future.

Fabrizio Moretti
Drummers’ solo careers are a bit hit and miss (mostly miss, if you’re Ringo Starr), so Moretti’s decision to start a new band worked to his advantage: best to hide behind other wannabes than take the spotlight. Little Joy, a trio with strong connections to modern-day folkster hippy Devendra Banhart, put out an eponymous album in 2008. Released to generally favourable reviews, Nick Hornby (the British author responsible for High Fidelity) named it as his favourite record of the year. The band are currently touring Europe.

Nikolai Fraiture
The Time of the Assassins by Nickel Eye (see what he did there?) is the brainchild of The Strokes’ bassist Fraiture, released in January this year and roundly panned for being massively substandard. The Time of the Assassins sounds a lot like a collection of dull Lou Reed outtakes, feeling as though those involved know they’re worth more. Even Fraiture sounds bored. Probably best avoided.