The Strokes Artistfacts

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The Strokes Artistfacts

1999-
Julian CasablancasVocals
Albert Hammond, Jr.Guitar
Nick ValensiGuitar
Nikolai FraitureBass
Fabrizio MorettiDrums
The Strokes were part of a youthful rock revival in the early 2000s that also included The White Stripes and The Vines. Their first hit was "Last Nite" in 2001, when the band members were all in their early 20s.
Julian Casablancas formed the band formed while attending the Dwight School in Manhattan, where he met Nick Valensi and Fabrizio Moretti. Adding his childhood friend Nikolai Fraiture to the lineup, they would practice together every day after school at Moretti's house. Albert Hammond, Jr., who had recently moved to the city, was added as a second guitarist soon after.
All of the members were born to affluent families, which some critics held against them. Casablancas' father, John, founded the Elite Modeling Agency.
They've had the same five members since their inception, but they haven't been active the entire time. Their longest break was between their 2013 album Comedown Machine and 2020 return with The New Abnormal.
Julian Casablancas does most of their songwriting. He was 15 when he started writing his first songs, basing them on Nirvana riffs he figured out.
Hammond met Casablancas at a Swiss boarding school, La Rosee. After graduation, Hammond came to New York to attend the New York University film school, but he abandoned those plans when he fell in with the Strokes.
Ryan Gentles, who in 2000 booked the band for a series of shows at the Mercury Lounge in New York City, was so impressed with them that he quit his job to become their manager, a role he kept until 2020.
In their early years they were known for the kind of excess and indulgence typical of young rock stars, but they tempered those habits over the years. Albert Hammond, Jr. went to rehab in 2010 to kick an addiction to heroin and other drugs; he's been sober ever since.
When they were getting loads of press in the early 2000s, they would have some fun in interviews by being overly affectionate with each other, even kissing each other on the lips.
Their first United States national tours were with the Doves, and then with Guided By Voices.
The Strokes built a modest following in America with their debut album, Is This It, but in the UK that album was hailed as a masterpiece, earning many accolades from critics and appearing on various year-end best-of lists. The influential magazine NME named it the best album of 2001.
The moment when Hammond fell in love with music was when he went to England and saw a show on the life of Buddy Holly.
Albert Hammond, Jr. is the son of songwriter Albert Hammond, who had a hit in 1972 with "It Never Rains In Southern California."
In February 2005, Casablancas married Juliet Joslin, The Strokes' assistant manager. He announced the engagement at several shows including one in Central Park, where prior to playing their song "Hard To Explain," he said, "I'm getting married and it's hard to explain!"

The couple had two sons, Cal and Zephyr, before divorcing in 2019.
Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti dated the actress Drew Barrymore from 2002 to 2007. It was Barrymore's longest relationship to that point, even counting her two previous (short-lived) marriages.
Julian Casablancas filed for a patent in September 2015 for a folding electrical bicycle, which is powered by rechargeable batteries and doesn't have any pedals. Strokes tour manager Richard Priest and video director Warren Fu are also listed among the inventors.
Nick Valensi formed a rock band called CRX in 2013, giving him the opportunity to step up front for lead vocals. They released their first album, New Skin, in 2016.

Comments: 10

Kayla from Winnipeg, MbThe Strokes are amazing! Julian Casablancas is one of the sexiest guys I've ever seen! He's yummy! ;)
Anna from Atlanta, GaOMg the Strokes are so influencial and different sounding to me!!! i love them soooo much and listen like all the time now ever since my awesome friend Megan got me into them=) and aaahhh so hot they kiss each other!?!? ahh! yum!
hehe yeah I DO LOVE THE STROKES SO INCREDIBLY MUCH
`anna
Steve from Long Beach , CaDAMN The Strokes are awesome i like all there songs Fab is a bad ass drummer too Yaaa i wonder when they gonna come back to the lbcc to play
Chelsea from Wagga Wagga, AustraliaNikolai is the sexiest name ever!!!!! and i love the strokes!!!! they rock!
Austen from Anchorage, AkThe Strokes are a very sick group, perhaps my favoriate band...But i really wish they didnt kiss eachother. That's yuck
Chase from St. Louis, Mo^yeah, albert hammond, jr. is the son of albert hammond...
Katie from Your Mom, CanadaLe Lycee isn't french for school its french for college. i love the strokes. they're off the heezie fo sheezie...sorry bout that...they really rock and there are sooo many rip offs of them but nothing can even begin to compare to their greatness.
Legacy User from Legacy LocationI absolutely love the strokes...
AND I adore their Bassist..Nikaloai...wowhe is totally cool.
I love you guys...
Toni
Nicoletta from Bronx, Nyyup..."affluent family"
David from Lubbock, TxCould it be that Albert Hammond, jr is the son of Albert Hammond, who had the monster hit "It never rains in Southern California"?

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