The Strokes concluded their second weekend performance at the Coachella festival on April 18th with a stark video montage. The visuals, displayed on the main stage, presented a narrative accusing the CIA of decades of foreign regime change operations. The montage culminated in explicit imagery of Israeli bombings in Gaza and U.S. bombings in Iran, directly linking these events to historical U.S. foreign policy and alleged government misdeeds.
The presentation spanned from accusations of complicity in historical events like the slave trade to more recent depictions of conflict. Specific claims included suspected CIA involvement in the deaths of leaders such as Panamanian President Omar Torrijos and Ecuadorian President Jaime Roldós in 1981. The band also highlighted alleged U.S. government roles in the overthrow of leaders like Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953 and Chilean President Salvador Allende in 1973, as well as Bolivian President Juan Torres in 1976.
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"The screen then faded to black, and the band walked off stage."
Further elements of the video pointed to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., stating on-screen that the "USGOVT found guilty of his murder in civil trial," referencing a 1999 civil court finding. While the U.S. Department of Justice's own investigation did not support this civil verdict, the inclusion of the finding in the band's visual display underscored a critical perspective on U.S. historical actions. The performance also included footage of destruction in Iran and Gaza, with one message stating "over 30 universities destroyed in Iran" and showing the "last university standing in Gaza" being demolished.
Fan reception appeared divided, with some praising the band for using their platform to address these issues. Comments on social media indicated appreciation for highlighting Gaza, Iran, and Latin America. Conversely, concerns were raised by some supporters regarding potential repercussions for the band, with speculation that such a statement might impact future invitations to perform at Coachella.
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The band's frontman, Julian Casablancas, had also touched on political themes earlier in the festival, including a remark about potential automatic military draft registration. The visual display concluded with an image of a bomber plane.
This political statement follows a pattern of artists using festivals like Coachella to voice concerns, particularly regarding the conflict in Gaza. It also comes as The Strokes are preparing to release their seventh studio album, 'Reality Awaits,' on June 26th.
Coachella organizers have not released a public statement regarding the video montage, and attempts to reach them for comment were unfulfilled at the time of reporting. Clips of the video were disseminated across social media platforms, sparking wider discussion and varied reactions.
The Strokes used Coachella to condemn U.S. foreign policy and recent bombings in Gaza and Iran.
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