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“Their last hit “Net gain” saw them rocket to the top in 2004, but it also saw them fall back down to earth with a heavy, sobering blow.” It’s never easy at the top. People want the fame and the money but once they’re there life seems to collapse around them. The money’s wasted on exhausting habits- drink, drugs and sex. The fame, well that’s a drug too. You have to constantly fight for the Jonathon Ross slot on tele and keep your single repeated on the Hits. In the end life becomes a wild cocktail of extreme highs and lows accompanied by a narcissistic lifestyle. Your latest hair product or photo shoot becomes your number one priority.
“He was admitted to rehab after a heroin overdose. It was thought that he regularly took 200mg of heroin in a week which is enough to kill you!” The Strobes have seen it all. Their last hit “Net gain” saw them rocket to the top in 2004, but it also saw them fall back down to earth with a heavy, sobering blow.The sad and tragic death of lead singer’s, Jamie Fox’s, wife Juliet destroyed the band. Fox’s life turned to one of pure ecstasy to that of extreme depression. Juliet, aged just 25, died from an aggressive form of breast cancer three days before Christmas the same year whilst their record was still at number 1 in the chart.
Fox wasn’t seen for the next three months. The tabloids hinted that he had flown to the U.S attempt to console himself. Many believed the singer, who suffers from manic depression, was resorting to substance abuse in order to control his uncontrollable grief. On the 15th March 2005 he was admitted to rehab after a heroin overdose. It was thought that he regularly took 200mg of heroin in a week which is enough to kill you!
The music industry was extremely concerned for his wellbeing. His family and friends along with Fox’s record company Desert Island records had spent the past three months searching for him desperately hoping for him to show up somewhere safe and sound. It was only when he showed up in Miami central hospital that he was identified.
His situation had reversed. He had been on top of the world walking side by side with A-lists celebrities such as Sarah Mckezie and Ben Clark. The band’s glory days between 2000-2003 had been marked with seven academy music awards. It was estimated that the band earnt a whopping £200 million between them. In 2005 Fox had to face his new, grim reality. His life had turned into a horror show. He had lost his wife which he had been sole mates with since the age of 10 and so dearly loved. He was addicted to heroin and severely depressed. To add salt to his wounds he was now £9 million in debt.
The band had kept in close contact with Jamie throughout his troubles but things weren’t the same. Jamie needed something to fill the huge hole in his life. Something was missing and it was the sound of music. Desert Island studios was calling out for the sound of the Strobes.
Jamie made a full recovery in 2007 and to everyone’s delight he signed up another deal with his band. Fans were expectant of their new album but none ever came. Jamie had spent much of his time setting up his own cancer charity along with his band which aims to support both the patients and the friends and family around them. In 2008 they had raised around £20 million for the charity which has made dealing with cancer easier for thousands of people.
“I would spent nights at a time snorting lines of coke before downing shots of rum.” For most of this time the band kept themselves to themselves managing to dodge the inevitable press attention. Their time was spent perfecting their fourth album. On 20th September the Strobes released their album titled “Overdose”. So far it’s sold over a million copies and is steadily working its way up. Then on 25th February something amazing happened. Anyone who was lucky enough to be on their website at that time would have seen a massive icon appear on the page, bang on midnight, saying “Tour dates: Book now!” We realised then that we needed to know more!

“Something was missing and it was the sound of music. Desert Island studios was calling out for the sound of the Strobes.”It was a grim day in Manchester when I met Jamie. It had been forecast to snow so both of us had wrapped up warm. As I made my way through the Trafford shopping centre up towards Starbucks to meet them I began to ask myself what I was going to say. Here was a band that knew how success felt like and had seen how quickly it was taken away from them. How am I meant to put across all the emotion they he has felt and his struggle with sanity? How was I meant to capture his dramatic story in such a short time? Well, here it goes….

Q. Over the past decade you’ve been through many highs and lows from your bestselling album “I’m taking you home” in 2004 to the tragic death of your wife. What would you say was the most important factor that pulled you through to where you are now?

A. Drugs. It sounds pathetic but I was desperate. I couldn’t cope. In a way drugs were my vice, my defence mechanism shielding me from reality. I understood the consequences but I didn’t care. This sounds terrible but at the time I didn’t care if it killed me. I thought to myself that it would relieve the pain I was going through. I would spent nights at a time snorting lines of coke before downing shots of rum. I don’t remember much from that time.
“ I never ever start a gig without munching a few hobnobs and a nice cuppa. I simply wouldn’t be able to perform without them!”Q. How did you remove drugs as a part of your life? Did anything replace the wholes in your life at the time?

A. Rehab was excellent in sorting everything. I was pretty messed up by the time I was with them. I have a lot to thank them for. The most difficult thing, as you say, was replacing the gap in my life. It was then that I realised that my life was nothing without music. The rest of the band were really supportive and helped me back on my feet. We started work on the album straight away but they also realised the need for me to do something constructive Juliet’s death. The charity idea was my idea but the others helped me. It’s been such a success and we’ve managed to help so many others suffering or caring for others with cancer. The kick you get from helping others beats that of any drug. That’s when I realised I didn’t need it any more.

“We’re still the same old guys but we’ve swapped the cocaine for celery sticks and yoga classes.”Tell us about your new album “Overdose”. What do you feel it says about you and the band?

A.The album says a lot about us and the journey we’ve been through. I know I probably sound like I’m talking bullshit but music is a great way to express yourself and bring a message across no matter how tenuous. I think this album is much more angry and loud than the previous ones. It also represents my grief and loss. The album, to me, has a rawer feel. I was so excited when it was released. It feels so good to be back in the charts.

Your tour starts next week in Cardiff. How do you feel when you perform in front of crowds and how do you get ready?

On the outside I’m sure we seem ok but secretly we’re bricking it! It takes me a good two hours to get ready. I take my performance very seriously as I know how much effort the fans have put into seeing us. I normally start with vocal routines and then gradually psyche myself up. It sounds odd but I spend a good half an hour listening to my ipod before a gig. Oh and I almost forgot, I never ever start a gig without munching a few hobnobs and a nice cuppa. I simply wouldn’t be able to perform without them!

Q. Do you feel you have the same bond with the band as you did before your troubles?
A. Obviously things will never be the same between us. We have all been through so much. I think we’ve all become a bit more mature. Before we spent our nights getting wasted and being rude to hotel staff. Now our kicks come from music which I think is better especially for the fans. We have so much more passion now. We’re still the same old guys but we’ve swapped the cocaine for celery sticks and yoga classes.

Q And finally.. If you were left stranded on a desert island and there was only one thing you could keep what would that thing be?

A. My kingsize bed of course!