The Strokes

The Strokes formed in New York City in 1998, comprising Julian Casablancas (lead vocals, primary songwriter), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums). The band members, many of whom attended Dwight School or Institut Le Rosey, began playing together as teenagers. They quickly developed a reputation for their live performances in Manhattan’s rock clubs, notably the Mercury Lounge, which led their booker, Ryan Gentles, to become their manager. In 2000, they recorded ‘The Modern Age’ EP with producer Gordon Raphael. This EP generated significant label interest, resulting in a bidding war that concluded with their signing to RCA Records.

In 2001, The Strokes released their debut album, ‘Is This It’, which garnered critical acclaim and strong sales, appearing on numerous ‘greatest albums’ lists. The album notably featured singles like “Last Nite” and “Hard to Explain.” This success was followed by ‘Room on Fire’ (2003) and ‘First Impressions of Earth’ (2006). After a hiatus, the band released ‘Angles’ (2011) and ‘Comedown Machine’ (2013). In 2016, they released the ‘Future Present Past’ EP through Julian Casablancas’s Cult Records. Their 2020 album, ‘The New Abnormal’, produced by Rick Rubin, received highly positive reviews and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The Strokes have maintained a presence through touring and individual projects. Their musical style is categorized as indie rock, garage rock revival, and post-punk revival, with later albums incorporating new wave and synth-pop elements. Julian Casablancas has cited The Doors, Lou Reed, Bob Marley, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam as inspirations. The band’s debut album, ‘Is This It’, is often recognized as one of the most influential albums of its decade, impacting numerous artists and bands in the alternative music scene.