Reviving Garage Rock: 20 Random Facts about The Strokes

The Strokes are an American rock band from New York City. Formed in 1998, the band is composed of Julian Casablancas (lead vocals), Nick Valensi (lead guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (rhythm guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums).

The band rose to fame in the early 2000s with their debut album “Is This It” (2001), which was widely praised for its catchy melodies, cool, disaffected lyrics, and raw, stripped-down rock sound reminiscent of post-punk and New Wave bands of the late ’70s and early ’80s. The album is often credited for helping to kickstart the garage rock revival movement of the early 21st century.

The Strokes Facts

The Strokes were formed in New York City in 1998.
The band members are Julian Casablancas (lead vocals), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums).
Julian Casablancas and Nikolai Fraiture were childhood friends who met at a French school in New York.
Their debut album “Is This It” was released in 2001 and is often cited as one of the most important rock albums of the 21st century.
The cover art for “Is This It” was controversial due to its suggestive nature and was changed for the U.S. release.
Albert Hammond Jr.’s father, Albert Hammond, is a successful songwriter and musician, known for hits like “It Never Rains in Southern California.”
They’ve been highly influential in the indie rock genre, inspiring bands like Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and many more.
Julian Casablancas wrote all the songs on their first three albums.
Their first gig was at the Spiral in New York City.
The band was signed by RCA Records in 2001.
The Strokes went on a hiatus after their third album, “First Impressions of Earth” in 2006. They returned with “Angles” in 2011.
During their hiatus, several members pursued solo projects. Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond Jr. both released solo albums.
The band’s fifth studio album, “Comedown Machine,” was released in 2013 with minimal promotion.
“The New Abnormal,” their sixth studio album, released in 2020, won a Grammy for Best Rock Album, marking their first Grammy win.
Drummer Fabrizio Moretti dated actress Drew Barrymore from 2002 to 2007.
The band name “The Strokes” is believed to reference a variety of influences, including “strokes of luck” and “strokes in golf”.
Julian Casablancas is credited with creating the band’s distinctive logo, using the typography of his favorite comic book, “Magnus, Robot Fighter.”
Their song “Juicebox” was their first top 10 hit in the UK.
Albert Hammond Jr. has played a significant role in shaping the band’s sound with his rhythm guitar.
The Strokes have a strong following in the UK, with their debut album often regarded as a turning point in British music, despite the band being American.