The Strokes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Strokes
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The Strokes performing live; clockwise from top-left: Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture, Fabrizio Moretti, and Albert Hammond Jr.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
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| Members |
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The Strokes are a famous rock band from New York City, USA. They started playing music together in 1998. The band has five members: Julian Casablancas (lead singer), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums).
In the early 2000s, The Strokes became very popular. They were a big part of the post-punk revival and garage rock revival music styles. These styles brought back the raw, energetic sound of older rock music.
Their first EP, The Modern Age, came out in 2001. It caused a lot of excitement among record labels. Soon after, they released their first album, Is This It. This album was loved by critics and sold very well. Many people still say it's one of the best albums ever.
They followed up with Room on Fire (2003) and First Impressions of Earth (2006). These albums also sold well and got good reviews. After a break, they released Angles (2011) and Comedown Machine (2013).
In 2020, The Strokes released The New Abnormal. This album was a big hit and critics praised it. It even won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album!
Contents
How The Strokes Started
Forming the Band (1998–2001)
The band members knew each other from school. Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, and Fabrizio Moretti started playing together in 1997. They were teenagers attending Dwight School in Manhattan. Later, Nikolai Fraiture, a childhood friend of Julian, joined as the bassist.
In late 1998, Albert Hammond Jr. joined the group as another guitarist. He had just moved to New York City. Albert and Julian knew each other from a boarding school in Switzerland. They soon became roommates.
For the next two years, the band practiced a lot. They played many shows in New York City's rock clubs. Places like the Luna Lounge and the Mercury Lounge became their regular spots. The manager of Mercury Lounge, Ryan Gentles, even quit his job to become The Strokes' manager.
The band created a 14-song set. These songs were early versions of what would be on their first album. They worked with producer Gordon Raphael in 2000. Together, they made a demo called The Modern Age EP. This demo got attention from a UK record label, Rough Trade Records.
The EP was released in 2001. It included a free download of their song "Last Nite". This release caused a big competition among record labels wanting to sign the band. It was one of the biggest bidding wars for a rock band in years!
Is This It Album (2001–2002)
The Strokes released their first album, Is This It, in October 2001. Gordon Raphael also produced this album. The record label, RCA Records, delayed the release in the US. They were worried about the album's cover and some lyrics. For example, the song "New York City Cops" was changed for the US release.
Despite the delay, Is This It received amazing reviews. Many critics called it one of the best albums of the year. NME magazine even said The Strokes were touring some of the "best pop songs ever." The band toured all over the world, playing in Japan, Australia, Europe, and North America. They even opened for the famous Rolling Stones band!
Is This It has had a lasting impact. In 2009, NME named it the Greatest Album of the Decade (2000s). Rolling Stone magazine put it second on a similar list. Many musicians say this album influenced them greatly.
Room on Fire Album (2003–2004)
The band started recording their second album in 2002. They worked with producer Nigel Godrich at first. But they later decided to go back to Gordon Raphael, who produced Is This It.
In August 2003, The Strokes toured Japan. They played some new songs like "Reptilia" and "12:51". Their second album, Room on Fire, came out in October 2003. Critics liked it, and it sold well, becoming a gold record.
The album kept The Strokes' unique sound. It also reminded people of bands like the Cars and Blondie. The first single from the album was "12:51". Guitarist Nick Valensi made his guitar sound like a keyboard on this song. The music video for "12:51" was directed by Roman Coppola and looked futuristic, like the movie Tron.
During their 2003–2004 tour, The Strokes had bands like Kings of Leon open for them. They also recorded a song called "Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men" with singer Regina Spektor.
First Impressions of Earth and Break (2005–2007)
In late 2005, the first song from their third album, "Juicebox", was leaked online. This meant they had to release the song earlier than planned. "Juicebox" became a Top 10 hit in the UK and on US Modern Rock charts.
Their third album, First Impressions of Earth, was released on January 3, 2006. It got mixed reviews but was very popular at first. It reached number four in the U.S. and number one in the UK. It was also the most downloaded album on iTunes for two weeks.
This album sounded a bit different from their first two. They worked with a new producer, David Kahne. In February 2006, The Strokes won "Best International Band" at the NME Awards. They then went on their longest US tour ever.
After this tour, Julian Casablancas told fans the band would take a long break. Their manager confirmed this "much needed break." In May 2007, a new music video for their song "You Only Live Once" was released.
Angles Album (2009–2011)
The band members started writing new music in 2009. Julian Casablancas said the new songs sounded like a mix of 1970s rock and "music from the future." On March 31, 2009, the band announced their fourth album would be called Angles.
This album was different because all five members helped write the music. Before, Julian wrote most of the songs. Guitarist Nick Valensi said, "It's super collaborative, and it sounds different, but it has a Strokes vibe to it."
The band headlined many big music festivals in 2010 and 2011. These included Isle of Wight Festival, Lollapalooza, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. On June 9, 2010, they played a secret show in London, their first live show since 2006.
The first song from Angles, "Under Cover of Darkness", came out on February 9, 2011. The album followed on March 18, 2011. The band also released a music video for their second single, "Taken for a Fool".
Comedown Machine Album (2012−2015)
In April 2012, bassist Nikolai Fraiture announced that the band was going into the studio. They wanted to work on new ideas for their fifth album. They planned to create it like Angles, with everyone bringing their own ideas.
On January 17, 2013, a new song called "All the Time" was previewed on the radio. This was confirmed to be the first single from their new album. A few days later, they released another song, "One Way Trigger", for free download.
On January 30, the band announced their fifth album would be called Comedown Machine. It was released on March 25, 2013, in the UK and March 26 in the US. The band decided not to do any interviews or TV appearances for this album.
In May 2014, The Strokes played their first US show in three years. They performed songs from Comedown Machine live for the first time. They also played at big festivals like Governors Ball Music Festival and Primavera Sound in 2015. Julian Casablancas mentioned that the band was back in the studio working on new music.
Future Present Past EP (2016–2017)
On May 26, 2016, Julian Casablancas shared a new song called "OBLIVIUS". This song was part of a new four-song EP called Future Present Past. The EP also included "Drag Queen" and “Threat of Joy”, plus a remix of "OBLIVIUS" by drummer Fab Moretti.
The EP was released on June 3, 2016. It came out just before the band's show at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City. The songs were recorded in Austin and New York with producer Gus Oberg.
The band played at several festivals in 2016 and 2017. These included Splendour in the Grass in Australia and various Lollapalooza events in South America. Their show at Lollapalooza Argentina had about 90,000 people, which was their biggest show ever at that time!
The New Abnormal Album (2019–Present)
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In October 2016, guitarist Nick Valensi said the band was "slowly but surely working on an album." In July 2017, it was mentioned that they met with famous producer Rick Rubin. However, Albert Hammond Jr. clarified that a new album was still "years away, if at all."
In May 2019, the band performed live for the first time in over two years. They played a new song called "The Adults Are Talking". This show started their "global comeback" tour.
At their New Year's Eve show in Brooklyn in 2019, Julian Casablancas announced that their sixth album would be released in 2020. They also played another new song called "Ode to the Mets".
On February 10, 2020, the band performed at a political rally. Julian Casablancas officially announced their sixth album, The New Abnormal, would be released on April 10. They released the first single, "At the Door", on February 11. Two more singles, "Bad Decisions" and "Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus", followed.
The New Abnormal was released worldwide on April 10, 2020. It received very positive reviews. In October, The Strokes performed "The Adults are Talking" and "Bad Decisions" on Saturday Night Live. In 2021, they shared a clip of a new song, "Starting Again." In 2022, they continued touring and opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In October 2022, Rick Rubin confirmed he was recording a new album with the band in Costa Rica.
The Strokes' Music Style
The Strokes' music is often described as indie rock, garage rock revival, and post-punk revival. These styles are known for their raw energy and catchy guitar riffs. On later albums like Angles and The New Abnormal, they also added sounds from new wave and synth-pop.
Julian Casablancas has said that bands like the Doors inspired him to start making music. He also mentioned Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground as a big influence on his singing and lyrics. Other bands that influenced him include Bob Marley, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. He even said he started making music after hearing Pearl Jam's song "Yellow Ledbetter".
The Strokes' Impact
The Strokes' first album, Is This It, was a huge success. NME named it the number one album of the year, and Rolling Stone put it at number two. This album earned The Strokes a lot of respect from other artists in the alternative music scene.
James Murphy, the lead singer of LCD Soundsystem, called Is This It his "record of the decade." The album won "Best International Album" at the 2002 NME Awards.
Many bands have been influenced by The Strokes. These include the Killers, Arctic Monkeys, and Franz Ferdinand. Alex Turner, the lead singer of Arctic Monkeys, even sang "I just wanted to be one of The Strokes" in their 2018 song 'Star Treatment'. This shows how much The Strokes inspired other musicians.
Band Members
- Julian Casablancas – lead vocals (1998–present)
- Nick Valensi – guitars, backing vocals (1998–present); keyboards (2005–present)
- Albert Hammond Jr. – guitars, backing vocals (1999–present); keyboards (2009–present)
- Nikolai Fraiture – bass (1998–present)
- Fabrizio Moretti – drums, percussion (1998–present); keyboards (2009–2010, 2019–present)
Albums by The Strokes
- Is This It (2001)
- Room on Fire (2003)
- First Impressions of Earth (2006)
- Angles (2011)
- Comedown Machine (2013)
- The New Abnormal (2020)
Awards Won
The Strokes have won several awards for their music, including:
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for The New Abnormal
- "Best International Band" at the NME Awards
- "Best International Album" for Is This It at the NME Awards
Images for kids
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The Strokes in 2002
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The Strokes in concert, 2006
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The Strokes at Austin City Limits Festival in 2010
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The Strokes performing at Corona Capital, 2019
See also
In Spanish: The Strokes para niños
