The Strokes Guitarist Buys House

The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr has bought an enormous new country house.

The Strokes are without doubt one of the most influential rock acts of the decade. The band's debut album 'Is This It?' sparked a wholesale shift in guitar music, throwing bands back into the charts.

Embodying the filthy glamour of New York, the band's mixture of skinny ties and skinny riffs inspired a thousand groups, many of whom in turn went on to enjoy vast success. Sure, The Strokes may have thus far failed to live up to the glistening promise of their debut but the group remain the ultimate party band.

That is, when they release new material. The group last released a studio album with 2005's 'First Impressions Of Earth', announcing a break soon after. Since then, various members have embarked on solo projects, but fan's demand for new material has grown.

Albert Hammond Jr released a solo album himself last year. The guitarist is of course the offspring of a famed songwriter, with Hammond Sr recently revealing that he would love to collaborate with his son.

The Strokes were due to begin rehearsing new material earlier this year, with recording sessions due to begin late in 2009. Until then, however, Albert Hammond Jr will have an enormous new house to kick about in.

The guitarist recently bought a ten acre 10th century farmhouse in the Catskills, an area 90 miles north west of Manhattan.

Showing off his new acquisition to the New York Post. "It all started because I bought a Range Rover," he explained.

"I never thought I'd buy a place in the country, and everybody I know said I was crazy. But this is exactly what I need to slow things down; to feed my creativity and my soul."

The architect who designed the home claimed that Hammond would have heard about the property from friends. "It's been word of mouth, viral," the architect told the New York Post.

"People who want self-exile, who want the anti-destination second home, get why this is great value."