The Strokes

Rock Band

The Strokes released their debut album, Is This It, in 2001 and then spent 2002 touring and basking in the spotlight as rock's Next Big Thing. Singer Julian Casablancas, drummer Fabrizio Moretti, guitarist Nick Valensi and bassist Nikolai Fraiture (former classmates from upscale private schools) were joined by guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. in the late '90s. The band began playing in New York City clubs, performing songs written by Casablancas, then recorded a three-song demo, The Modern Age, that earned them a recording contract. Their major-label release, Is This It, sold more than 500,000 copies within six months and the The Strokes were suddenly pop stars and critics' darlings. Frequently compared to British bands of the '60s and New York City New Wave bands of the '70s and '80s, their first album included the songs "Last Nite" and "When It Started." In 2003 they released their second album, Room on Fire, and in 2006 they released First Impressions on Earth. Although neither album earned as much praise as their debut, they were commercially successful (especially in the U.K.) and included the hit singles "12:51" and "Juicebox," respectively.

Extra credit: Albert Hammond, Jr.'s father wrote the song "It Never Rains in Southern California" and has written for Chicago, Julio Iglesias and Celine Dion... "When It Started" is part of the soundtrack to the 2002 movie Spider-Man.

Other rock bands on Who2 include Coldplay, Fugazi and Linkin Park.