Last updated by Jemima Todd on 2nd October 2026

Few bands are as closely associated with the sound of early 2000s New York rock as The Strokes. More than 25 years after forming, Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti remain one of the most recognisable line-ups in alternative music.

From the arrival of Is This It to a Grammy Award-winning comeback and 2026's Reality Awaits, their career has taken them from intimate New York clubs to major arenas and festivals around the world. Now, another chapter is under way as The Strokes bring their latest music back to the live stage.

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How did The Strokes form?

The story of The Strokes began in New York City in the late 1990s, but the relationships behind the band stretched back further. Frontman Julian Casablancas, guitarist Nick Valensi and drummer Fabrizio Moretti knew one another from their school years in Manhattan, while Casablancas had been friends with bassist Nikolai Fraiture since childhood.

The final piece arrived through guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. - Casablancas and Hammond had previously met while attending boarding school in Switzerland, before unexpectedly crossing paths again in New York. Hammond joined Casablancas, Valensi, Moretti and Fraiture, completing the five-piece line-up that would become The Strokes.

By 1999, the group were rehearsing together and beginning to establish themselves on New York's live music circuit. Rather than arriving as an established act, they developed through regular rehearsals and increasingly prominent performances at smaller venues. The Mercury Lounge in Manhattan became particularly important to their early story, with the band playing a series of shows there as their local following grew.

Those performances eventually caught the attention of talent booker Ryan Gentles, who was working at the Mercury Lounge at the time. Impressed by the group, Gentles left his position at the venue to become their manager — an important step as The Strokes began moving beyond New York's club scene.

Their first major breakthrough came with The Modern Age EP in early 2001. Featuring ‘The Modern Age’, ‘Last Nite’ and ‘Barely Legal’, the release quickly attracted attention from the music press and record labels, particularly in the UK. The growing interest ultimately led to a record deal with RCA in the US.

Within a relatively short period, five friends who had been playing Manhattan clubs were attracting international attention. Later in 2001, their debut album Is This It transformed that early momentum into a breakthrough that would help define the next chapter of guitar music.

Is This It and The Strokes' breakthrough

Released in 2001, Is This It introduced The Strokes' distinctive guitar-led sound to a much wider audience.

Songs including ‘Last Nite’, ‘Someday’ and ‘Hard to Explain’ became defining tracks from the band's early years, while the record established a musical identity built around Casablancas' vocals, tightly interlocking guitars and concise songwriting.

The album also arrived during an important period for New York guitar music. The Strokes were among a collection of acts — alongside groups including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol and later LCD Soundsystem — associated with the city's resurgent rock scene during the decade.

More than two decades later, Is This It remains fundamental to understanding both the band and the period in which they emerged.

From Room on Fire to First Impressions of Earth

Success was followed by Room on Fire in 2003. The band's second album included tracks such as ‘Reptilia’, ‘12:51’ and ‘Under Control’, continuing many of the musical ideas that had characterised their debut.

Their third record, First Impressions of Earth, followed in 2006 and expanded the scope of The Strokes' sound. After touring the album, the band entered an extended hiatus while its members pursued individual projects. This, however, was not the end of The Strokes.

The five musicians eventually returned to recording together, releasing Angles in 2011. The album reached the top five in both the UK and US, while ‘Under Cover of Darkness’ became one of its most prominent tracks. Comedown Machinefollowed in 2013.

The period demonstrated a willingness to move beyond the musical formula associated with their earliest records while maintaining the same five-member line-up.

The Strokes return with The New Abnormal

Seven years after Comedown Machine, The Strokes released their sixth studio album, The New Abnormal, in 2020.

Produced by Rick Rubin, the record marked another important stage in their career. Tracks including ‘Bad Decisions’, ‘Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus’ and ‘The Adults Are Talking’ introduced a new era of The Strokes to listeners while retaining elements of the band's established sound.

The album subsequently earned The Strokes their first Grammy Award, winning Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021.

Two decades after their debut, the achievement demonstrated that The Strokes' story was continuing to develop rather than relying solely on their celebrated early catalogue.

A new era with Reality Awaits

In 2026, The Strokes returned with their seventh studio album, Reality Awaits.

The record reunited the group with Rick Rubin and was recorded initially in Costa Rica before work continued elsewhere around the world. It marked their first studio album for six years and introduced new songs including ‘Going Shopping’, ‘Falling out of Love’, ‘Liar's Remorse’ and ‘The Fruits of Conquest’.

Its arrival has also given The Strokes another substantial collection of material to take on tour.

The band performed at major festivals during 2026, including Coachella, before embarking on further international dates. For audiences, the resulting shows offer the opportunity to hear more than 25 years of The Strokes' music within a single live set.

The Strokes' 2026 UK tour

The Reality Awaits era brings The Strokes back to the UK for a run of major arena performances in October 2026.

The schedule includes two nights at The O2 in London on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th October, followed later in the month by dates at Utilita Arena Newcastle and Co-op Live in Manchester. The band are joined by special guests Fat White Family and Alex Cameron for the UK shows.

The tour provides a chance for fans to experience material from Reality Awaits alongside music from across the band's career. With seven studio albums now behind them, The Strokes have an extensive catalogue from which to build their live shows.

For long-standing fans, songs from Is This It and Room on Fire remain reminders of the band's emergence at the beginning of the century. For newer listeners, The New Abnormal and Reality Awaits represent a more recent introduction to the five-piece.

The lasting influence of The Strokes

The Strokes' importance extends beyond individual records or singles. Their emergence coincided with a renewed international focus on guitar bands and New York's alternative music scene at the beginning of the 2000s.

Their influence can be heard in the generations of indie and alternative acts that followed, while their original five-member line-up has remained intact throughout the band's recording career. AllMusic describes them as one of the most influential rock acts of the early 21st century.

That longevity is particularly significant given the different phases the band has experienced. From rapid early success and periods away from recording to a Grammy-winning return and a seventh studio album, The Strokes have continued to add new chapters to a career that began in New York clubs more than a quarter of a century ago.

Experience The Strokes live

The arrival of Reality Awaits means The Strokes are once again performing music from across their career in major venues around the world.

For fans hoping to make their next show particularly memorable, selected live events can be experienced with premium seating and hospitality options, combining the performance with an enhanced matchday-style experience at the venue.

Explore The Strokes VIP tickets and hospitality packages with Seat Unique and discover premium ways to see the band live.

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