The Strokes criticize Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos in new music video

The Strokes have dropped a new music video for “Lonely in the Future,” a clip that turns the band into Spitting Image‑style puppets and takes aim at Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the broader billionaire class. The video was released on the same day the group performed the track on Saturday Night Live, and it follows a long‑running tradition of the band using satire to comment on contemporary politics and culture.

The puppet concept echoes the 1980s Genesis video “Land of Confusion,” a format the Strokes have used before. Lead singer Julian Casablancas and director Warren Fu reunited for the project after working together on earlier Strokes videos such as “You Only Live Once” and “Taken for a Fool.” The pair also collaborated with the creators of the original Spitting Image show, ensuring the new clip carries the same biting humor and social critique that made the show famous in the UK.

In the clip, Musk and Bezos are shown kissing, while Zuckerberg is tasered and later celebrates “the end of the world” with the other billionaires. Rupert Murdoch is depicted rewriting headlines to push his own agenda, and Greta Thunberg is imprisoned. The video also features music critic Anthony Fantano calling Bach “not good” and Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” “immensely boring” – a jab at a feud with Casablancas over the latter’s review of the Strokes’ side project, The Voidz. Other figures include Lou Reed, producer Rick Rubin and a nod to the band’s own past videos like “Last Nite” and “Reptilia.” The puppet Strokes echo their iconic 2002 MTV2 live concert, adding layers of self‑reference to the satire.

Critics have praised the video’s daring approach. NME awarded the parent album “Reality Awaits” four stars, noting the band’s renewed energy and willingness to experiment. The Strokes have also finished a headline tour across the UK and Ireland, headlining the O2 Arena in London and playing shows in Newcastle, Manchester and Dublin. Their London set received a five‑star review from NME, highlighting how the band’s bold visuals and live performance keep them relevant in a crowded music landscape.