Photo: ANNA KURTH / AFP / Getty Images
Strokes guitarist and co-founder Nick Valensi is sitting out the band's upcoming summer tour for unspecified reasons.
The band announced on social media that Valensi is taking a "temporary break" and that longtime friend Steve Schlitz, who played with the Strokes during their early New York days, will fill in on guitar.
It's actually the second time this year Valensi has stepped away, with Schlitz also covering for him during an earlier unexplained hiatus before Valensi returned for the band's Coachella performances in April.
The Strokes are set to debut at Bonnaroo on June 12th before launching a nationwide headlining tour on June 15th in Clarkston, Michigan.
Their sixth studio album, "Reality Awaits," is due June 26th.
