The Strokes' Nick Valensi Takes Temporary Break From Tour; Longwave's Steve Schiltz to Fill In

Nick Valensi, a founding guitarist of The Strokes, will be taking a temporary leave from the band's upcoming tour dates. The news, initially shared via the band's Instagram story, indicates that Valensi will be replaced by Steve Schiltz, the frontman of Longwave. "Nick will be taking a temporary break from the scheduled tour, but we look forward to his return," the message stated, also noting Schiltz's connection to the band's early days in New York.

Valensi's absence isn't entirely new, as he missed some of the band's shows earlier this year. However, he did rejoin them for their performances at Coachella 2026. More recently, he was absent from The Strokes' appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 15, where they debuted their new single, "Falling Out of Love."

The Colbert performance was particularly noteworthy as it was one of the show's final episodes before its scheduled end next Thursday. David Letterman was also a guest that evening.

The Strokes are gearing up for the release of Reality Awaits, their first album in six years, slated for June 26. The album features "Falling Out of Love" and "Going Shopping." The band's tour includes dates across North America, Europe, and Japan, as well as headlining slots at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. It remains to be seen whether Valensi will rejoin the band for these performances.

---

Related Articles

• The Strokes Face Reality: New Album, Tour, and a Temporary Lineup Change
• The Strokes Bring Their Cool to Colbert with "Falling Out of Love" Performance
• The Strokes Drop Auto-Tuned New Single "Falling Out of Love" Ahead of Colbert Performance