The Strokes concluded their second weekend performance at Coachella on April 19, 2026, with a politically charged video montage that directly accused the U.S. And Israel of recent bombings in Iran and Gaza, marking a sharp escalation in the band’s public stance on foreign policy.
The video, displayed on the festival’s massive LED screens during a rare live performance of their 2016 song “Oblivius,” wove together historical allegations of CIA involvement in overseas coups — including the 1953 overthrow of Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and interventions in Guatemala, Chile, and the Congo — with contemporary footage captioned to claim over 30 universities destroyed in Iran and the final standing university in Gaza reduced to rubble.
Lead singer Julian Casablancas repeatedly sang the chorus line “What side you standing on?” as the visuals played, a refrain that took on added urgency given his earlier jokes during weekend one about the potential reinstatement of the military draft amid rising tensions with Iran.
Whereas the band did not respond to requests for comment from The Independent, clips of the segment spread rapidly online, with one video surpassing 3.7 million views on X overnight, underscoring the immediate resonance of their message among global audiences.
Coachella organizers have remained silent on the performance, offering no public statement or indication of disciplinary action, despite online speculation that the Strokes might face blacklisting from future festivals.
Variety noted the festival appeared prepared for the political tone of the set, contrasting it with the backlash that followed last year’s appearance by the Irish group Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian remarks were met with organizer surprise.
The Strokes are already scheduled to headline Goldenvoice’s next Southern California festival in August, suggesting any potential fallout from the Coachella moment remains speculative at this stage.
The montage also revisited long-standing conspiracy theories, including an on-screen claim that the U.S. Government was “found guilty” of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in a 1999 civil trial — a verdict later rejected by the Department of Justice in 2000 due to lack of evidence.
By linking historical CIA operations to current military actions in the Middle East, the band positioned its protest as part of a broader critique of U.S. Foreign interventionism, a narrative that has gained traction among artists using global platforms to address Gaza and Iran.
During the first weekend of Coachella, singer Gigi Perez similarly called for a “free Palestine” while condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, indicating a growing trend of political expression at the festival.
Why did The Strokes choose to revive “Oblivius” for this performance?
The band had not played the song in concert since 2016, suggesting its return was intentional to accompany the new video montage, which directly references themes of government accountability and political awareness present in the track’s lyrics.
What specific claims did the video build about U.S. And Israeli actions in Iran and Gaza?
The video asserted that over 30 universities in Iran have been destroyed since U.S.-Israeli airstrikes began earlier in 2026, citing Iran’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and showed the destruction of Al-Israa University in Gaza, described as the last standing university there before its 2024 demolition by Israeli forces.
Is there any indication Coachella organizers plan to penalize The Strokes for the political content of their set?
Despite online speculation about potential blacklisting, organizers have not issued any public statement, and the band remains booked to headline a Goldenvoice festival in August, suggesting no formal repercussions are currently expected.
How did the response to this year’s Strokes performance differ from last year’s Kneecap controversy at Coachella?
Unlike Kneecap’s 2025 set, which reportedly took organizers by surprise with its profane condemnation of Israel, the Strokes’ 2026 presentation was met with no visible resistance, and Variety noted the festival appeared ready to accommodate their political message, with clear visibility maintained throughout the live feed.
