An American indie rock band formed in 2005 in Philadelphia by Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs developed a sound that blends alternative rock, psychedelia, folk, and heartland rock. In their early recordings, the group showed echoes of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, while later works expanded the references to include names such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, and The Waterboys.
With Granduciel on vocals and guitar, Vile on guitar, David Hartley on bass, and Kyle Lloyd on drums, the band released its first album in 2008, Wagonwheel Blues, on the Secretly Canadian label. Shortly thereafter, Vile left the band to pursue a solo career, and Lloyd also left the group.
Following these changes, drummer Mike Zanghi joined Granduciel and Hartley. In 2010, the trio released the EP Future Weather. Shortly thereafter, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Bennett joined the band, which solidified its identity with the albums Slave Ambient (2011) and Lost in the Dream (2014).
Critically acclaimed, Lost in the Dream significantly expanded the international reach of The War on Drugs. Characterized by atmospheric guitars, synthesizers, and introspective compositions, the album helped establish the band’s signature blend of sonic experimentation and American arena rock.
In 2015, the group signed with Atlantic Records and, two years later, released A Deeper Understanding. The album earned the band the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2018, their first win at the awards.
Their fifth studio album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, was released in 2021 and further explored the band’s expansive and melodic sound. The expanded lineup now included Granduciel, Hartley, Bennett, Charlie Hall, Jon Natchez, Anthony LaMarca, and Eliza Hardy Jones, transforming The War on Drugs into a seven-piece band.
In 2024, the band released Live Drugs Again, their second live album, compiling recordings from performances between 2022 and 2023. The album served as a follow-up to 2020’s Live Drugs.
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