The Strokes End Coachella with Politically Charged CIA Critique
The Strokes closed their Coachella set with a powerful political statement, displaying a montage criticizing the CIA and the US government.
The Strokes made a bold statement during their Coachella performance, using their platform to highlight political issues. The band, performing on the mainstage ahead of Justin Bieber's headline set, used their closing moments to address global conflicts and alleged government misconduct.
During their performance of 'Oblivius' (2016), visuals displayed on the screen behind the band incorporated images of global leaders alongside text explaining various historical events.
The slideshow featured images of Omar Torrijos, Jacobo Árbenz, and Jaime Roldós Aguilera, identified as leaders allegedly overthrown by the CIA. A photo of Martin Luther King Jr. was also shown, accompanied by the statement: "US Govt found guilty of his murder in civil trial."
Footage depicting rubble in Iran was displayed alongside the text "over 30 universities destroyed in Iran," followed by a clip of "the last university in Gaza" being destroyed by an air missile. The band then exited the stage as the screen faded to black.
For those who missed it: this was the moment The Strokes ensured they’ll never set foot in Coachella again! I'm so proud of them #Strokeschella pic.twitter.com/ue1UIikixU
— Zaf (@Buenozaf) April 19, 2026
the strokes encore for coachella 2026 weekend 2 pic.twitter.com/xfCD8fwH5d
— ًً (@MASOCHlSTlC) April 19, 2026
This act of protest follows their previous performance where frontman Julian Casablancas subtly criticized Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, sporting a t-shirt mocking the Amazon logo.
Casablancas also referenced the US government's plan to automatically register men aged 18-25 for the military draft.
The band is gearing up to release their new album ‘Reality Awaits’ on June 26 via Cult Records/RCA Records, their first in six years, recorded with Rick Rubin in Costa Rica and finished across various global locations. Pre-orders are available here.
To support the album, The Strokes have announced a world tour, including stops in the UK, North America, Europe, and Japan. This marks their first full tour in the UK and Ireland in over two decades, with performances scheduled at London’s O2, Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, Manchester’s Co-op Live, and Dublin’s 3Arena in October.
Support acts on select dates include Thundercat, Cage the Elephant, Hamilton Leithauser, Fat White Family, Alex Cameron, and ÖLÜM.
The first single from ‘Reality Awaits’, ‘Going Shopping’, was initially shared with fans on cassette before its official release and live debut in San Francisco.
NME's review of 'Going Shopping' noted that while it avoids playing it safe, it lacks the spirit and tenacity of The Strokes' previous work.
Albert Hammond Jr described the album as having a looser feel due to the recording environment in Costa Rica, suggesting that the environment influenced the band's style, as he mentioned on The Shaky Experience podcast in 2023.
Related Articles
Listen to The Strokes on Foxsoundi. Click here to listen!
Comments (0)
Login to comment