How a New York City garage band defined the sound of the early 2000s
In short: Formed in 1998, The Strokes ignited a massive bidding war with their 2001 debut EP. Their raw, guitar-driven sound became a cultural touchstone, yet the band’s internal dynamics and creative evolution have kept them in a constant state of flux for over two decades. Discover the story behind their enduring legacy.
The Strokes emerged from Manhattan’s Dwight School, where Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, and Fabrizio Moretti began playing together as teenagers. By 1998, the lineup was finalized with the addition of bassist Nikolai Fraiture and guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. The group spent two years honing their craft in Midtown’s Music Building, eventually catching the attention of producer Gordon Raphael. Their 2001 debut, Is This It, arrived amidst a massive industry bidding war, quickly becoming a definitive record of the garage rock revival.
The band’s trajectory has been marked by both critical triumph and deliberate experimentation. While their first two albums established a signature sound, later releases like Angles and Comedown Machine reflected a shift toward collaborative songwriting, moving away from Casablancas’s initial role as the primary architect. This evolution was not without friction; the band famously navigated a media blackout during the release of Comedown Machine and experienced significant gaps in activity, including a five-year hiatus before their 2011 return.
Despite these periods of relative silence, the band’s influence remains potent. Their 2020 album, The New Abnormal, produced by Rick Rubin, was widely hailed as a return to form, earning them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. From their early days playing small Lower East Side clubs like the Mercury Lounge to headlining global festivals, The Strokes have maintained a consistent lineup since their inception, a rarity in the volatile world of rock music.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Strokes
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