The Strokes: A Band Of Brothers Or Estranged?

The Strokes, an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998, have had their fair share of intra-band conflict. The band is composed of lead vocalist and primary songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Despite their success and influence on the music industry, The Strokes have experienced tensions and disagreements, with band members pursuing solo projects and the band taking a hiatus at one point. However, they have continued to create music together and perform, indicating a level of professionalism and a desire to move past their differences.

Julian Casablancas and Ryan Adams' feud

The feud between Julian Casablancas and Ryan Adams is said to have stemmed from Adams's alleged influence on guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.'s past heroin habit. In the book 'Meet Me In The Bathroom', it was revealed that Casablancas threatened to beat up Adams if he continued to encourage Hammond's drug use.

In an interview with Matt Wilkinson on Beats 1, Casablancas played down the feud, stating that he wasn't interested in rehashing old drama. He questioned the accuracy of the book, noting that his wife, who was The Strokes' co-manager for 10 years, was not interviewed. Casablancas expressed his reluctance to blame Adams or throw him under the bus, and stated that he didn't pay much attention to the feud.

Adams, on the other hand, denied the claims made in the book, stating that he didn't do drugs socially and didn't remember doing drugs with Hammond. He also hit back at The Strokes, with a particular dig at Hammond's songwriting abilities.

Despite the feud, Casablancas and Adams have both moved on and focused on their respective music careers. Casablancas has been promoting his new album with The Voidz, while Adams has continued to make music and perform.

When it comes to the dynamics within The Strokes, there have been reports of tension and disagreements among band members. However, in an interview, Casablancas mentioned that they had "turned a page" and still hung out outside of their musical endeavours. The band has continued to create music together and perform live, indicating that despite their differences, they are able to work together and maintain a level of professionalism.

Substance abuse within the band

Substance abuse has been a significant issue within the band, with several members struggling with addiction. Julian Casablancas, the band's singer and songwriter, has faced well-publicised battles with alcoholism and drug addiction, including heroin and cocaine. In interviews, he has described himself as a "drunken nightmare to society as a whole" during the height of his addiction. Casablancas has also spoken about his bandmates' interventions, which ultimately helped him get clean.

Albert Hammond Jr., the band's guitarist and a close friend of Casablancas, also struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. He has been open about his journey to sobriety, which began with an intervention in 2009.

These struggles with substance abuse have undoubtedly influenced the band's dynamics and creative process. Casablancas has admitted that his bandmates' interventions were necessary for his recovery but also created "some grey areas" and "conflict" within the group. Despite these challenges, the band has continued to create music together and perform live, although they have also pursued solo projects and collaborations outside of the Strokes.

In recent years, the Strokes have released new music and performed at festivals and benefit concerts, indicating a positive direction for the band. Their reputation has been enhanced by their enduring influence on indie rock and a book, *Meet Me in the Bathroom*, which chronicled the band's impact on the New York music scene in the early 2000s.

Intra-band conflict

The Strokes, an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998, have had their fair share of intra-band conflict over the years. The band is composed of lead vocalist and primary songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. While they have enjoyed commercial and critical success, there have been reports of tensions and disagreements within the group.

One source of conflict within The Strokes was the band's relationship with musician Ryan Adams. Adams was close to guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and would often join the band during their late-night jam sessions. However, Casablancas and others in the band viewed Adams as a "bad influence," particularly on Hammond's past struggles with heroin addiction. Casablancas even threatened to beat up Adams if he continued to supply Hammond with heroin. This rift eventually led to a public feud between Casablancas and Adams, with the latter denying the claims and criticising the band.

In addition to the Ryan Adams feud, there have been reports of intra-band conflicts within The Strokes over the years. One issue was the band's creative process, with Casablancas writing the majority of the songs on their first three albums. This dynamic reportedly caused tension within the group, as the other band members wanted more creative input. There were also reports of disagreements over the band's direction and sound, with some members feeling that they should be more collaborative.

The intra-band conflicts within The Strokes came to a head during the recording of their third album, "First Impressions of Earth." At this time, the band members were dealing with substance abuse issues, and there were reports of frequent fighting and arguing. The tensions continued during their live performances, with the band described as drunk and not fun to be around. The conflicts eventually led to a five-year hiatus, during which the band members focused on solo projects.

Despite the intra-band conflicts, The Strokes have managed to persevere and continue their musical careers. They have released several successful albums and have influenced numerous other artists. However, the road has not always been smooth, and they have had to navigate through periods of tension and disagreement to reach their current level of success.

The band's relationship with Courtney Love

The Strokes and Courtney Love had a complex and tumultuous relationship, with reports of drug use, creative influence, and conflict. Love, the Hole frontwoman, was known to spend time with the band during their early days in New York City's rock scene in the early 2000s. She was described as a "coke Yoda" by journalist Marc Spitz, who suggested that while he wasn't sure if she gave them cocaine, she was not the best influence on the band.

Love was also linked romantically to Julian Casablancas, the frontman of The Strokes. They allegedly spent time drinking and socialising together, and there was speculation that they had a relationship involving drugs and/or sex. Casablancas even wrote the song 'Meet Me in the Bathroom' in 2003, which is allegedly about Courtney Love. The lyrics include "when they say promises, they mean promises", which some interpret as alluding to a secret Love shared with Casablancas, possibly about the death of her husband, Kurt Cobain.

Love's public image and behaviour were also a cause for concern for the band. Ryan Gentles, the band's manager, recalled a time when Love was "running up and down the hallways naked" during an MTV broadcast. Despite this, Gentles expressed admiration for Love, stating, "she's so smart. But I don't know her. I don't think anybody knows her."

The relationship between The Strokes and Courtney Love was, therefore, multifaceted and had both positive and negative aspects. While Love may have been a source of creative influence for the band, her influence on their drug use and public image caused tension and concern within the group.

The Strokes' influence on other bands

The Strokes are widely regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Their debut album, 'Is This It', changed the landscape of indie/alternative music and earned them a huge amount of respect across various artists in the alternative music scene.

The Strokes were a leading group of the early 2000s post-punk revival and garage rock revival movements. Their music has been described as a mix of indie rock, garage rock revival, and post-punk revival. Their sound has also been likened to that of their NYC forefathers, including Television, the Ramones, and the New York Dolls.

The Strokes' influence can be seen in the work of numerous other bands, including:

• The Killers: Brandon Flowers is said to have thrown out all of his songs except "Mr. Brightside" after hearing "Is This It", knowing they weren't up to par.
• Arctic Monkeys: the band's lead singer, Alex Turner, sang, "I just wanted to be one of The Strokes" in their 2018 song 'Star Treatment'. They have also covered The Strokes' songs live, including "Take It or Leave It" and "Reptilia".
• The Kooks: their first song was a cover of The Strokes' "Reptilia".
• Kings of Leon (early stuff): they were often called the "Southern Strokes" by many.
• Franz Ferdinand: their debut record was clearly influenced by The Strokes.
• The Growlers: their album "City Club" was produced by Julian Casablancas, the Strokes' lead singer.
• Sunflower Bean: the band's guitarist, Nick, has said he likes Casablancas' solo album "Virtue".
• Say Lou Lou: they have covered The Strokes' songs and have lyrics inspired by Casablancas.
• The National: their bassist has said that "Is This It" was one of the first basslines he learned when he started playing the bass.
• The Red Hot Chili Peppers: their 2002 album "By The Way" is said to have been influenced by "Is This It".

The Strokes' impact on other bands was not just limited to their sound. By succeeding in blazing a fresh garage rock trail, they gave record companies, magazines, and radio playlisters the confidence to seek out, invest in, and back a new wave of artists.

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