The Strokes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Strokes
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The Strokes on the Chelsea Hotel rooftop in 2003; clockwise from top-left: Fabrizio Moretti, Nikolai Fraiture, Nick Valensi, Julian Casablancas, and Albert Hammond Jr.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
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| Members |
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The Strokes are an American rock band. They formed in New York City in 1998. The band members are Julian Casablancas (singer), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums). They became very popular in the early 2000s. They were known for their unique sound, which mixed garage rock revival and post-punk revival styles.
Their first EP, The Modern Age, came out in 2001. Many record labels wanted to sign them. They chose RCA Records. Their first album, Is This It, was released later that year. Critics loved it, and it sold very well. It is still considered one of the best albums ever.
After Is This It, they released Room on Fire (2003) and First Impressions of Earth (2005). These albums also sold well. They received good reviews, but Is This It remained their most famous.
The band took a break for five years. Then they released Angles (2011) and Comedown Machine (2013). These albums were well-received. After their contract with RCA ended, they released the Future Present Past EP in 2016. This was through Julian Casablancas' own label, Cult.
The Strokes were not very active for a few years. They played live shows sometimes. In 2020, they released The New Abnormal. This was their first album in seven years. Rick Rubin produced it. Critics praised the album, calling it a great return to their original style. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2021.
Contents
Band History
How The Strokes Formed (1998–2001)
Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, and Fabrizio Moretti started playing music together. They were teenagers at Dwight School in Manhattan. They formed a band in 1997. Later, Nikolai Fraiture joined them. He was a childhood friend of Julian.
In 1998, Albert Hammond Jr. joined as the last member. He had just moved to New York City. Albert knew Julian from a school they both attended in Switzerland. Soon after, they became roommates.
For the next two years, the band practiced a lot. They played many shows in New York City. They practiced most nights at places like The Music Building. Their first show as The Strokes was on September 14, 1999. They played at clubs like HiFi Bar and the Luna Lounge. A young manager from Mercury Lounge, Ryan Gentles, quit his job to manage them.
The band prepared a set of 14 songs. These songs later became their debut album, Is This It. They worked with producer Gordon Raphael in 2000. They made a demo called The Modern Age EP. They sent it to Rough Trade Records in the UK. This led to their first official release. The UK magazine NME gave away a free MP3 of "Last Nite". This was before the EP was physically released in 2001. The EP caused a big competition among record labels. Everyone wanted to sign The Strokes.
Is This It Album (2001–2002)
The Strokes released their first album, Is This It, in July 2001 in Australia. It came out in Japan and the UK in August 2001. The US version was released in October 2001. These releases happened during their tours in those countries. They played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Their popularity grew so fast that they moved to the main stage.
RCA Records delayed the US release. They were concerned about the album's cover and some lyrics. The international cover showed a gloved hand on a woman's back. The North American version had a photo of particle collisions. RCA also changed the song "New York City Cops" to "When It Started". The original song had lyrics that some found sensitive after the September 11 attacks.
Despite the delays, Is This It received great reviews. Many critics called it one of the best albums of the year. NME even said their songs were "the best pop songs ever." The band toured worldwide after the album's release. They played in Japan, Australia, Europe, and North America. They even opened for the Rolling Stones several times.
Is This It has had a lasting impact. In 2009, NME named it the Greatest Album of the Decade. Rolling Stone put it second on a similar list.
Room on Fire Album (2003–2004)
The band started recording their second album in 2002. They worked with producer Nigel Godrich. However, they later decided to work with Gordon Raphael again. He had produced Is This It.
In August 2003, the band toured Japan. They played new songs like "Reptilia" and "12:51". The Strokes released their second album, Room on Fire, in October 2003. Critics liked it, and it sold well. The album kept The Strokes' familiar sound. It also brought in influences from bands like the Cars and Blondie.
The first single from Room on Fire was "12:51". It featured unique keyboard-like sounds from Nick Valensi's guitar. The music video was directed by Roman Coppola. It was inspired by the futuristic look of the 1980s film Tron.
During their 2003–2004 tour, bands like Kings of Leon and Regina Spektor opened for them. The Strokes also recorded "Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men" with Regina Spektor. They covered the Clash's "Clampdown" during their shows.
First Impressions of Earth and Break (2005–2007)
In September 2005, "Juicebox" was leaked online. This was the first single from their third album. The leak forced them to release the single earlier. "Juicebox" became a Top 10 hit in the UK and on US Modern Rock charts.
Their third album, First Impressions of Earth, came out on January 3, 2006. It received mixed reviews. 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 2006, the band played many sold-out shows in the UK. They won "Best International Band" at the NME Awards. They then toured the U.S. and Europe. They played at major festivals like Roskilde Festival and Oxegen Festival. They also opened for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers for some shows.
During their final tour for this album, Julian Casablancas told fans the band would take a long break. Their manager, Ryan Gentles, confirmed this break. A new music video for "You Only Live Once" was released in 2007.
Angles Album (2009–2011)
Julian Casablancas and Nick Valensi started writing new songs in 2009. They wanted to record a new album. On March 31, 2009, the band announced their break was over. They were working on a fourth album, called Angles.
This album was different because all five members wrote the music. Before, Julian wrote most of it. Nick Valensi said, "It's super collaborative, and it sounds different, but it has a Strokes vibe to it." The album was supposed to come out in late 2009. But disagreements about the songs delayed it.
In 2010, they announced that Joe Chiccarelli was producing the album. However, they were not happy with his style. They decided to record most of the album at Albert Hammond Jr.'s home studio. They worked with engineer Gus Oberg.
The Strokes headlined many 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. It was their first live show since 2006.
The first single from Angles, "Under Cover of Darkness", came out on February 9, 2011. The album followed on March 18, 2011. The band confirmed they were already working on their fifth album. "Taken for a Fool" was the second single. Its music video was released on July 8, 2011.
Comedown Machine Album (2012−2015)
In April 2012, Nikolai Fraiture announced the band was going into the studio. They wanted to work on new ideas. The Strokes planned to record their fifth album soon. Fraiture said they would create it like Angles. Each member would bring ideas and work together.
On January 17, 2013, a radio station previewed a new song. It was called "All the Time". This was confirmed as the lead single. On January 25, 2013, "One Way Trigger" was released for free download on their website. Fans had mixed reactions to it.
On January 28, a fan found the new album cover online. This led to rumors that the album would be called Comedown Machine. On January 30, the title was confirmed as Comedown Machine. It was released on March 25 in the UK and March 26 in the U.S.
The band decided not to do any promotion for this album. There were no TV appearances, interviews, or tours. In October 2013, the band said they wanted to "return to the scene" in 2014.
In May 2014, The Strokes played their first US show in three years. It was at the Capitol Theatre. They played songs from Comedown Machine live for the first time. They also headlined Governors Ball Music Festival and FYF Fest. In 2015, they played at Primavera Sound and British Summer Time: Hyde Park festival. Julian Casablancas said the band was back in the studio. They were working on new music.
Future Present Past EP (2016–2017)
The Strokes played their first show of 2016 in Austin, Texas. On May 24, 2016, they announced another New York show. On May 26, Julian Casablancas premiered "OBLIVIUS" on his radio show.
Cult Records announced the release of Future Present Past. This was a four-song EP. It included three new songs: "Drag Queen", "OBLIVIUS", and "Threat of Joy". It also had a remix of "OBLIVIUS" by Fab Moretti. The EP was released on June 3, 2016. This was just before their headlining show at Governors Ball Music Festival. Gus Oberg produced the EP.
The band played at the Splendour in the Grass festival in Australia in July 2016. They also played a benefit concert in Los Angeles. This show supported charities like Waste Not Want Not Now.
In early 2017, the band played several festivals. These included Estéreo Picnic Festival and Lollapalooza Brasil, Chile, and Argentina. Their show in Argentina had about 90,000 people. Nikolai Fraiture said it was their "biggest show ever."
The New Abnormal Album (2019–Present)
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In October 2016, Nick Valensi said the band was "slowly but surely working on an album." In July 2017, Albert Hammond Sr. mentioned that The Strokes were working with Rick Rubin. Albert Hammond Jr. clarified on Twitter that they had only met Rubin. He said a new album was "years away, if at all."
In May 2019, the band performed for the first time in over two years. It was a benefit show in Los Angeles. They played a new song called "The Adults Are Talking". This show started their "global comeback" tour. However, the tour faced problems like sound issues and canceled shows.
In September 2019, Valensi hinted at a sixth album. During their New Year's Eve show in Brooklyn, Julian Casablancas announced it would be released in 2020. They also played a new song called "Ode to the Mets".
On February 10, 2020, the band performed at a rally for Bernie Sanders. Casablancas formally announced their sixth album. The title was The New Abnormal. He confirmed it would be released on April 10, 2020. They played two new songs at this show.
On February 11, the band released "At the Door". This was the first single from the album. Two more singles followed: "Bad Decisions" and "Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus". Their sixth album, The New Abnormal, was released worldwide on April 10, 2020. On October 31, they performed on Saturday Night Live. They played "The Adults are Talking" and "Bad Decisions".
In June 2021, the band shared a video supporting a New York City mayoral candidate. It featured a clip of a new song, "Starting Again." Throughout 2022, the band toured a lot. They headlined Lollapalooza dates in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. They also played other big music festivals in Europe. In June 2022, they played a benefit concert for a congressional candidate. That summer, they opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022 Global Stadium Tour.
In October 2022, Rick Rubin said he was recording a new album with The Strokes in Costa Rica. As of August 2025, there has been no update on that album. Julian Casablancas has been focusing more on his other band, The Voidz. On March 8, 2024, the band played another benefit concert.
Music Style
The Strokes' music is described as indie rock, garage rock revival, and post-punk revival. On later albums like Angles and The New Abnormal, they also used new wave and synth-pop sounds.
Julian Casablancas has said that the Doors inspired him to start music. He also said Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground greatly influenced his lyrics and singing. Julian explained that Lou Reed wrote about life in a very real way. He also mentioned Bob Marley, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam as big influences. He started making music after hearing Pearl Jam's song "Yellow Ledbetter".
Band's Impact
The Strokes' first album, Is This It, was highly praised. NME named it the number one album of the year. Rolling Stone put it at number two. Many artists in the alternative music scene respected The Strokes. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem called Is This It his "record of the decade." The album won "Best International Album" in 2002 from NME.
Brandon Flowers of the Killers said he felt "depressed" after hearing Is This It. He said, "That record just sounded so perfect." He explained that The Killers threw away their old songs. Only "Mr. Brightside" remained.
Lizzy Goodman, who wrote a book about the New York City music scene, said The Strokes were very influential. She said they were "as influential to their era as the Velvet Underground or the Ramones were to theirs." She added that "almost every artist I interviewed for this book... said it was The Strokes that opened the door for them."
Spin magazine named The Strokes "Band of the Year" in 2002. They have influenced many bands. These include the Killers, Arctic Monkeys, and Franz Ferdinand. Alex Turner, the singer of Arctic Monkeys, even sang "I just wanted to be one of The Strokes" in their 2018 song 'Star Treatment'. Other bands like Wet Leg and We Are Scientists have also said The Strokes influenced them.
Band Members
- Julian Casablancas – lead vocals (1998–present); drums (2005), keyboards (2009–present)
- Nick Valensi – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1998–present); keyboards (2005–present)
- Fabrizio Moretti – drums, percussion (1998–present); keyboards (2009–present)
- Nikolai Fraiture – bass (1998–present); keyboards (2009–present)
- Albert Hammond Jr. – rhythm and lead guitars, backing vocals (1999–present); keyboards (2009–present)
Discography
- Is This It (2001)
- Room on Fire (2003)
- First Impressions of Earth (2005)
- Angles (2011)
- Comedown Machine (2013)
- The New Abnormal (2020)
Awards and Nominations
The Strokes' 2020 album The New Abnormal won Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
See also
In Spanish: The Strokes para niños
