The Strokes
John Casablancas (singer/songwriter)), Fabrizio Moretti (who began playing drums at age five), and Nick Valensi (guitarist) started playing together in 1998 while they attended Manhattan's private prep school Dwight School. Soon after they met Nikolai Fraiture (bassist), who attended the Upper East Side's Le Cest Francais, and added him to their ranks. Albert Hammond (guitarist) came from Los Angeles to attend film school in New York and was invited into the band by Casablancas.

Casablancas officially christened the quintet the Strokes in 1999, and the group spent most of that year writing and rehearsing material in New York City's Music Building. They made their live debut that fall at the Spiral and their big break came when word of mouth about their incendiary live show propelled them to gigs at venues like Under the Acme, Lower East Side clubs such as Arlene Grocery, Baby Jupiter, and N.Y.C.'s Luna.