The Strokes formed at a young age, with each of the members connected in some way to lead singer/songwriter Julian Casablancas. Casablancas, guitarist Nick Valensi, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti started playing together while attending Manhattan's Dwight School. Bassist Nikolai Fraiture had been friends with Julian and was attending the Lyce Franais de New York. At age 13, Casablancas was sent to Le Rosey, a boarding school in Switzerland in order to straighten up his behavior, as he developed drinking problems at a young age and was consequently doing poorly in school. While there, Casablancas became acquainted with guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr.. Years later, when Hammond came to New York to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, they became reacquainted and began sharing an apartment together. They officially christened themselves The Strokes. Their popularity increased quickly, especially on the Lower East Side of New York, and they began to perform at Manhattan's popular Mercury Lounge, where Ryan Gentles was in charge of booking. Gentles was so impressed by the band that he quit his job in order to become their manager.

While keeping their day jobs (Casablancas was a bartender, Hammond worked at Kim's Video, and Valensi waited tables at upscale Manhattan restaurants) The Strokes began rehearsing and forming a ten to twelve song catalogue which included "Last Nite", "The Modern Age", "This Life" (an early version of "Trying Your Luck"), "New York City Cops", "Soma" and "Someday" among others. Most of these songs now feature different lyrics. Songs titled "Sagganuts," "In Her Prime," "Rhythm Song," "A Minor 4-4," "Elephant Song" (written for Hammond's music studies), and three with unknown titles were dropped from their repertoire. "Rhythm Song," "In Her Prime," and "This Life" were available on an early EP available from Kim's Video and Other Music in 2000.

Gordon Raphael, a small-time rock producer of New York's underground rock scene, attended one of the Strokes' early concerts. Years later he admitted that he actually went to watch the other band that played that night. Raphael gave Hammond his telephone number, saying he could record a demo for them.

The Modern Age EP was released in 2001, and sparked a bidding war among record labels; the largest for a rock and roll band in years.Subsequently, The Strokes became the subject of enormous hype, causing a great divide among rock fans, albert mostly hipsters and independent magazines.

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