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The Strokes took aim at the US government during the second weekend of Coachella, ending their set with a politically charged video.
The American rock group closed their big stage show on Saturday night with their 2016 hit “Oblivius” as an image played on the screens behind them about CIA-backed regime change overseas, the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and the bombing of Gaza and Iran.
This video shows a succession of world leaders who were suggested to have been overthrown by the CIA including Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz in 1954, Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in 1961, Chilean President Salvador Allende in 1973, Bolivian President Juan 91 Bolivia and Bolivian President Juan Torres in 1973.
The montage featured a picture of King and the caption, “The US government was found guilty of murder in a public trial.”
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The Strokes ended their Coachella weekend performance twice with a politically charged video that appeared to take aim at the US government and the CIA. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
This statement appears to refer to a 1999 civil case, King v. Jowers, where the jury found that King's assassination was the result of a conspiracy involving government agencies. A Justice Department review in 2000 found no concrete evidence that US government agencies were involved in King's assassination and rejected claims of a wider conspiracy.
The video also showed images of slavery and Black Lives Matter protests as well as foreign political figures, including Ecuadorian President Jaime Roldós and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos, both of whom died in separate plane crashes in 1981. The text behind the photos said the CIA was “suspected” of involvement in the accidents.
The montage ends with video of US military strikes in Iran and Israel's invasion of Gaza. A clip of a demolished building was shown as a sign appeared over it that read, “Over 30 universities destroyed in Iran.”
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The video then cuts to the controlled demolition of a large building in Gaza, with the caption, “Last university standing in Gaza” before showing a military jet and fading to black.
The band's Coachella hit “Oblivius”, featuring the chorus, “Which side do you stand on?” it's the first time The Strokes have performed the song since 2016 and the second time it's been played in concert.
The Strokes' performance, which took place on the main stage before headline act Justin Bieber, was attended by thousands of attendees and watched by a live global audience watching on Coachella's official YouTube stream.
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Members of the Strokes include Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Fabrizio Moretti, Nikolai Fraiture and Julian Casablancas. (David Livingston/Getty Images)
After clips of the performance went viral, it drew mixed reactions from social media users, with some praising The Strokes and expressing their opinion that the band would not be invited back to Coachella, while others criticized the song's political messages.
The band's weekend Coachella single on April 11 did not include “Oblivius” or a video montage. However, The Strokes frontman, Julian Casablancas, made a few political comments on stage as he joked about a possible military draft.
“You guys are excited about the draft? Oh, wait — not the NFL draft,” Casablancas said, according to Rolling Stone.
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The Strokes are shown playing Coachella's second weekend. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
“In six months, I think everyone who is eligible will have to sign up for the military,” he told the crowd. “I hope to lead one of the units at Coachella. The hottest wing in our proud army, I'm sure.”
There is currently no active military draft in the US. The US last directed a military structure in 1972 during the Vietnam War. The working draft was completed six months later.
Male citizens between the ages of 18-25 are still required to register in the Selective Service System.
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Casablancas has expressed his political views in interviews and on stage, often criticizing US foreign policy and corporate power.
In a since-deleted Instagram post shared in November 2024, Casablancas shared that he had decided not to vote in the US presidential election, which was won by President Donald Trump after defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Casablancas has previously spoken about his political views. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
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According to NME, Casablancas posted a photo of an “I protested” badge and referenced part of a conversation he said he had with his mother.
“Like I told him, I'm thinking of my kids. 2nd party is a joke…horrible lies. The military and oil companies and the banks are what we vote for – and the media is their propaganda/entertainment arm & the way they're manipulating Bernie I see little point in choosing between these puppets…They want you to think it's important. That way nothing will change but it won't.”
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The Strokes, made up of Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti, publicly support US Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2020 Democratic primary.
The band will release “Reality Awaits,” their first album in six years, on June 26, and embark on an international tour scheduled to run through the summer and fall.
