Interpol

Interpol emerged from Manhattan in 1997 and became closely associated with New York’s early-2000s indie-rock surge. The original lineup brought together Paul Banks on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Daniel Kessler on lead guitar, Carlos Dengler on bass and keyboards, and Greg Drudy on drums. After Drudy left in 2000, Sam Fogarino joined as drummer. The group first performed at Luna Lounge alongside peers including the Strokes, Longwave, the National and Stellastarr.

The band’s 2002 debut, Turn On the Bright Lights, was critically acclaimed. Pitchfork named it its top album of the year, while NME placed it at No. 10 among its top albums of the year. Its follow-ups, Antics (2004) and Our Love to Admire (2007), brought further critical and commercial success. Interpol’s music combines staccato bass lines, rhythmic and harmonized guitar parts, and a snare-heavy sound, drawing comparisons to Joy Division, Television, the Chameleons, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The band works without a sole songwriter, with each member contributing to composition.

After releasing their self-titled fourth album in September 2010, Interpol went on hiatus while members focused on other projects. Dengler left that year, and Banks took on bass duties in the studio for the next three albums. The band returned with El Pintor in September 2014, followed by a 2017 anniversary tour on which they performed Turn On the Bright Lights in full. Marauder arrived in August 2018, and The Other Side of Make-Believe followed in July 2022. In 2024, Interpol marked 20 years of Antics with performances of the album in its entirety. Their eighth studio album, This Mirror Weighs a Ton, was released on August 28, 2026. Longtime touring musicians Brandon Curtis, on keyboards and backing vocals, and Brad Truax, on bass, became official members in 2026.