Babyshambles bassist teams with The Strokes

Babyshambles bass player Drew McConnell has revealed he has collaborated with the Strokes' guitarist Albert Hammond Jr on a solo record.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, McConnell said he had also recorded tracks with Fionn Regan: "I did four tracks a couple of months back with Albert Hammond Jr from The Strokes and Fionn Regan.

"I've had a few labels talking to me about the possibility of releasing it. We all needed it, Albert had been on tour with his solo thing and he was a little tired.

"It was good for everyone to get in the studio for a few days and have some beers and make some good music.

"Not worrying if a label was going to be happy with it or whether an A&R man was gonna check if the chorus came in, in the first 40 seconds."

McConnell admits it's possible the tracks will never see the light of day and that the solo work, which he has dubbed Helsinki, is definitely a side-project.

"When I play with Helsinki, on my own, it's more for fun," explained McConnell. "Not that Babyshambles isn't fun, but I take it more seriously."