Fabrizio Moretti
His propulsive, minimalist drumming defined the sound of 2000s rock cool, powering The Strokes' era-defining comeback.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Brazilian-American drummer·Birthday: June 2·Generation X
Biography
Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in New York, Fabrizio Moretti became the rhythmic engine of The Strokes, a band that reshaped rock's landscape in the early 2000s. His drumming, a study in tight, swinging economy, provided the backbone for hits like 'Last Nite' and 'Reptilia,' eschewing flash for feel. Beyond the garage-rock revival, Moretti has pursued a restless creative path, forming the sun-drenched indie outfit Little Joy and steering the experimental project Machinegum. His life is a dual canvas: in one lane, he's a globally recognized musician; in the other, a dedicated visual artist whose work in sculpture and installation explores texture and form with the same intuitive touch he brings to the kit.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Fabrizio was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Fabrizio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Fabrizio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As drummer for The Strokes, he played on the influential album 'Is This It,' which topped numerous 'best of the decade' lists.
- Co-founded the band Little Joy, whose self-titled 2008 album is a cherished cult classic of breezy, Brazilian-tinged indie pop.
- Has exhibited his visual art, including sculptural and installation pieces, in galleries separate from his musical fame.
- Led the synth-driven collective Machinegum, releasing the concept album 'Conduit' in 2019.
Did You Know?
He is a trained visual artist who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Moretti was in a long-term relationship with actress Drew Barrymore in the early 2000s.
He is a co-owner of the artisanal ceramics studio and gallery 'Futura.'
“The drums are the heart of the song. If the heart isn't beating right, the body's not going to function.”
