The Strokes ripped off ‘I Melt With You’ for ‘Bad Decisions’
The history of rock music is often a tangled tapestry of influence, homage, and outright theft. When looking at the evolution of iconic bands like The Strokes, the lines between inspiration and imitation often blur into a playful debate.
Recently, this dynamic came into sharp focus when Modern English publicly accused The Strokes of outright plagiarism. The accusation centered on the track Bad Decisions, which featured in The Strokes’ 2020 album The New Abnormal. Modern English claimed that the Strokes had “completely ripped off” their 1982 hit I Melt With You.
The playful confrontation quickly turned into a fascinating discussion about musical DNA. Bassist Michael Conroy and frontman Robbie Grey, when pressed, admitted that the similarities existed. The songs they were referencing—Bad Decisions and I Melt With You—shared undeniable sonic echoes. Furthermore, a 2020 NME review of Bad Decisions noted that the track contained shades of The Clash’s ‘Lost in the Supermarket’ and a nod to Billy Idol’s ‘Dancing with Myself,’ with Idol and Tony James even receiving songwriting credit.
Despite the friendly banter, the underlying theme was clear: musical history is rarely a straight line. The NME review of The New Abnormal ultimately celebrated the Strokes for their sound, noting that the album was “spiky but quite stunning” and acknowledged that they were a cool album that listeners begrudgingly grew to love.
The Strokes continue to thrive, demonstrating that while the past may be scrutinized, the present remains vibrant. They are currently celebrating their journey on their ongoing 2026 world tour for the album Reality Awaits. The live performances have seen them introduce new material and revisit classics, proving that a quarter-century on from their debut, The Strokes sound more alive and locked in than ever before.
Whether you focus on the contentious history of musical borrowing or the sheer, undeniable energy of a band performing live, the result is the same: an experience that remains utterly captivating.
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