The Strokes
New York, US
indie rock · garage rock revival · post-punk revival · new wave
The Strokes are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998, consisting of vocalist Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Leaders of the early-2000s garage rock and post-punk revival, they broke through with their debut LP Is This It (2001) on RCA, which became a defining record of the era and reinvigorated indie rock alongside contemporaries like the White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Subsequent albums Room on Fire (2003), First Impressions of Earth (2006), Angles (2011), and Comedown Machine (2013) saw the band evolve from back-to-basics garage rock toward more experimental, synth-influenced textures. Their 2020 album The New Abnormal won the Grammy for Best Rock Album, marking a celebrated late-career return. Rooted in NYC punk heritage and fronted by the laconic charisma of Julian Casablancas, The Strokes remain one of the most influential rock bands of the 21st century.
