Nick Valensi, a founding guitarist of The Strokes, will be absent for a portion of the band’s highly anticipated upcoming tour. The group announced the news via an Instagram story, stating, “Nick will be taking a temporary break from the scheduled tour, but we look forward to his return.”
To ensure the tour proceeds as planned, the band has recruited Steve Schiltz, the frontman of Longwave, to fill the vacancy. In their statement, the band noted that many fans will remember Schiltz from their early days in the New York music scene. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for The Strokes for further clarification regarding the duration of Valensi’s absence.
Valensi’s absence is not entirely unexpected, as he had already missed several performances earlier this year, though he did rejoin the band for their sets at Coachella 2026. Most recently, he was not present when the band, led by Julian Casablancas, performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 15. The performance served as the live debut for their new single, “Falling Out of Love.”
The appearance on The Late Show was particularly significant, as the program is nearing its final episodes before it officially concludes its run next Thursday. The band’s upcoming schedule remains packed, with a tour spanning North America, Europe, and Japan, alongside high-profile headlining slots at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. It remains unclear if Valensi will return in time for these festival appearances.
The Strokes are currently preparing for the release of their new album, Reality Awaits, which is set to drop on June 26. The record has already been teased with the release of “Falling Out of Love” and the lead single, “Going Shopping.”