"I just wanted to be one of The Strokes..."

Albert Hammond Jr has responded after The Strokes received a name check on the first line of the latest Arctic Monkeys’ album.

On ‘Star Treatment’, the opening track from 2018’s ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino‘, Alex Turner croons: “I just wanted to be one of The Strokes. Now look at the mess you made me make.”

Speaking to NME, The Strokes guitarist admitted that he laughed upon discovering the reference.

When asked if he found the reference flattering, he replied: “It’s more fun for the people who do it! I don’t live my life in that, it’s something you laugh at more.

“Sure it’s nice, but I didn’t think of it – I thought of it as a way of describe the simplicity of being young.”

He continued: “It’s a thing you want for the simplicity of it, and then you realise it’s a lot more complicated. It’s what a picture looks like – and a perfect way to reference his youth. It’s a cool thing and he’s a great lyricist.”

Earlier this year, Hammond Jr also teamed up with Fender for its new Albert Hammond Jr. Stratocaster.

“I was completely hands on. As much as you can possibly can be”, he said of creating the guitar.

“They’re an amazing company and I was in there at every step of the process. It was wonderful, I play it on stage and I like it very much. It’s close as you can get to a replica, but the whole idea was to not age it and make it feel like a signature guitar that you could sell at a high end price.”

He added: “But I also wanted it to be someone’s first guitar, so they can go on a journey with it and I want it to be for the next generation of players so someone can become better than I am.”

Meanwhile, Hammond also spoke to NME about his reaction to a Strokes show recently being announced in London as a hoax.

Hammond Jr will return to the UK for a solo tour next week. Check out the dates below and buy tickets here.

Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, Monday September 10
Club Academy, Manchester, Tuesday September 11
SWG3, Glasgow, Wednesday September 12
Electric Ballroom, London, Friday September 13
Thekla, Bristol, Saturday September 14
Concorde 2, Brighton, Sunday September 16