Interpol

Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk band from New York, United States, formed in Manhattan in 1997. The group is associated with the post-punk revival of the 2000s and is known for a sound built around staccato bass lines, rhythmic layered guitars and a snare-heavy drum mix, with comparisons often made to bands such as Joy Division and The Chameleons.

Formation and line-up

The band starts when Daniel Kessler meets drummer Greg Drudy on the New York University campus. Kessler then adds Carlos D. on bass after meeting him in a history class, and the line-up is completed when he meets Paul Banks, a friend he has previously met in Paris. In 2000, Sam Fogarino, who is known to the band through his work at a local record store, replaces Drudy.

The band’s members include Paul Banks on vocals and guitar, Daniel Kessler on guitar and backing vocals, and Sam Fogarino on drums. Carlos Dengler handles bass and keyboards before leaving in 2010. Longtime touring musicians Brandon Curtis and Brad Truax are later named official members in 2026. The verified membership list also includes Greg Drudy, Carlos Dengler, Paul Banks, Daniel Kessler and Samuel Fogarino.

Releases and recordings

Interpol releases Direction on the soundtrack to Six Feet Under in 2005, before leaving Matador for a major label. Our Love to Admire follows in 2007 and includes “The Heinrich Maneuver” as its first single.

The self-titled album Interpol appears in 2010, with “Barricade,” “Summer Well,” “Lights” and “Try It On” issued as singles. By this point, Carlos Dengler has already left the band. El Pintor, the group’s fifth album, is released in 2014; its title is an anagram of “Interpol.” Its singles include “All the Rage Back Home,” “Ancient Ways,” “My Desire,” “Anywhere” and “Everything Is Wrong.”

The later albums listed for the band are Marauder (2018), The Other Side of Make-Believe (2022) and This Mirror Weighs a Ton (2026).

Style and influence

Interpol’s music is rooted in indie rock, post-punk and post-punk revival. Its guitar-and-bass interplay and austere rhythmic feel place it within the New York post-punk tradition, while its use of repeated bass patterns and tightly arranged guitars is central to its identity.