| Born: 13th November 1978 Contribution to band: Bass, with minimum fuss and maximum charm What goes on under that mop of hair: Nikolai and Julian are the childhood chums of the bunch. they met when they were about 6 at a French pre-school, they're the kind of friends who shared the first times things togther, drinks, cigarettes and kisses. they still share these things very often. Nikolai is of french and russian heritage, and has a slight soft accent and like the preschool, he went to high school at La Cest Francias, and then to Hunter College with Nick who dropped out of Dwight (where Julian and Fab also went) in 10th or 11th grade. Nikolai has been described as the bookish type, seeming drug of choice being literature and he's pretty much known for not saying or moving much at all, or being bothered by anything, even if Nick throw pasta in his hair, he simply shrugs. Nikolai's a fan of Guided by voices (like them all) and Jane's Addiction and belt buckles. He's the guy in the band i think a lot of people underestimate, he's the dark mysterious horse, and perhaps thats the plan, or perhaps its just Nikolai. According to the band he’s tough, rugged, subtle, sincere and humble. i want his Nick's Guitar Shop t-shirt. |
| The Quotable Nikolai: On what The Strokes have that other bands don’t: 'Big dicks! Nah,' he goes on. 'In New York there's loads of bands that are as good, you know…' Nikolai on a horoscope of 2001 for The Strokes: "Nick is going to meet someone special in life and good fortune is coming to Al..." Nikolai on the philosophy of moshing: 'I think there's a difference between moshing violently and moshing for fun, though,' On comparisons to the 60’s/70’s bands: “Even from the beginning, when people saw us live, it was like they so badly wanted us to bring back something from the past. They laid any and every name on us, and a lot of the time it had nothing to do with us. People liked that sort of music, and for good reason, and then they see us and they hope that maybe it still exists.” Nikolai on what people do at american gigs…or sports events…it gets confusing: 'They just sit down, have a beer, have a hot dog,' (Hot dogs at a gig? – interviewer) 'Oh, sorry - I thought you meant at a game or a sports-event,' laughs off the bassist, embarrassed at his reply. Nikolai on having girls on tour: "They distract you, they make you think of other things than music. You can have girlfriends at home, but on tour it creates a weird atmosphere." On why the Strokes are so damn good: "We watched Spinal Tap and learned a lot," he smiles. "It's important to understand each person in the band to make sure we can continue to do what we're doing." Nikolai on the resemblence of the Album cover to Spinal Taps "Smell the Glove": "There's no actual picture of Smell The Glove. But yeah, it's funny. People saw girl and glove and freaked out." |
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| Nikolai "...(shrugs)" Fraiture |
| Big dicks! Nah,' he goes on. 'In New York there's loads of bands that are as good, you know…' ".....good fortune is coming to Al..." |
| They just sit down, have a beer, have a hot dog,' (Hot dogs at a gig?)Oh, sorry - I thought you meant at a game or a sports-event,' laughs |