ARTISTS INFLUENCED BY BUDDY HOLLY
Albert Hammond Jr.
Albert Hammond Jr. is best known as the rhythm guitarist for New York indie darlings The Strokes. Albert's father is also a well known musician and songwriter, responsible for such hits as "To All The Girls I've Loved Before", "The Free Electric Band" and The Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe". Because of his father's success in the music business, the junior Hammond said "I wanted to rebel against him and do whatever everybody else does as a kid". But the call of music was not to be denied. Hammond Jr. and Strokes vocalist Julian Casablancas first met at boarding school in Switzerland, and reconnected years later in New York City. They formed the band together with Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture, and Fabrizio Moretti. Hammond's guitar of choice is a 1970's Olympic White Fender Stratocaster, which he often holds in a high horizontal position, similar to Buddy Holly.
In late 2006, Hammond saw the UK release of his debut solo album, Yours To Keep, which features a cover of Buddy's "Well…Alright". Hammond had previously written songs for the Strokes, including "Swiss Beats", "Holland", and "By The Way", which were featured in their 2001 video In Transit. These particular songs were reworked and re-recorded for Yours To Keep, with the new titles "Everyone Gets A Star", "Bright Young Thing", and "In Transit". Recorded at Electric Ladyland in New York, the album features guest appearances by fellow Strokes Casablancas, Sean Lennon, and Ben Kweller, among others. He said he'd been "waiting to make a record like this for years". With Bassist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Matt Romano serving as his backing band, Hammond hit the road opening for Incubus on their North American tour, and Bloc Party on their world tour. He also had a set at the 2007 SXSW Conference in Austin, TX.
Quotes
Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison kind of started me in music, and once I heard that, I just felt like I wanted to do that.… Before then, I didn't like music so much. Something just clicked.… It made sense what I wanted to do with my life, from that moment on.
As for the two bonus-track cover versions, "Postal Blowfish" and "Well ... Alright," which were released as B-sides of singles in England, Hammond says: "Those represent two of the greatest influences in my life, Guided by Voices and Buddy Holly.
Back
Purchase an Album from this Artist 
Quicklinks to Influenced Artists: