Nick Valensi, guitarist for the Strokes, will step back from some of the band’s upcoming shows. A statement on the Strokes’ Instagram story read, “Nick will be taking a temporary break from the scheduled tour, but we look forward to his return.” His spot will be filled by Steve Schiltz of Longwave, a familiar face from the band’s early New York days.
Recent Absences
Valensi had already missed several Strokes performances earlier this year, though he returned for their sets at Coachella 2026. However, he was absent from their appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 15, where the band debuted their new single, “Falling Out of Love”. This episode was one of the last before The Late Show ends next week.
Upcoming Album and Tour
The Strokes are gearing up for the release of Reality Awaits, their first album in six years, set to drop on June 26. The album has been preceded by singles “Falling Out of Love” and “Going Shopping”. Their forthcoming tour will take them across North America, Europe, and Japan.
Festival Appearances
The band is also scheduled to headline major festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands this year. It remains unclear if Valensi will be part of these performances.
Source: https://pitchfork.com/news/nick-valensi-drops-out-of-upcoming-strokes-tour/
