It’s official: The Strokes are out of the running for this year’s Witnness festival.

According to a band source, the New York rock gods will be favouring studio tan over mucky festivals as they immerse themselves in the recording of their second studio album, the follow-up to 2001’s massive Is This It.

"The band needs to have 100% focus in the recording studio," says a spokesperson, "so don't look for The Strokes to be touring until after completion of the album, which will most likely be around August 2003. That will be the earliest time to see The Strokes resurface in the touring world."