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The Strokes Share Latest Update on Founding Guitarist After Rumors About His ‘Temporary Break’ From the Band Ran Wild

The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas replied to fans who speculated that Nick Valensi had permanently left the band, but not everyone was convinced.

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After pushing the date back a couple of weeks, The Strokes are gearing up for the July 24, 2026, release of their latest album, Reality Awaits. They will also be embarking on a global tour this summer. But founding guitarist Nick Valensi stepped away from the band in May, sharing a brief announcement after fans noticed he was missing from an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The statement said Valensi was taking a “temporary break” from his duties with The Strokes. But the band offered no timeline or possible return date. It was unclear if he would miss the entire tour or just a handful of dates. Additionally, Valensi didn’t appear in the band’s latest music video for “Going Shopping”, but frontman Julian Casablancas explained that in a comment online.

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