The Black Keys

The Black Keys are an American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001, consisting of Dan Auerbach on guitar and vocals and Patrick Carney on drums. They began as a self-recorded, self-produced act working out of basements, drawing heavily on the raw Mississippi hill country blues of artists like Junior Kimbrough, Howlin' Wolf and Robert Johnson, and became one of the defining acts of the 2010s garage rock and blues rock revival.

Over the years the duo's sound evolved from lo-fi, stripped-down blues rock into a more polished, groove-driven style incorporating soul and pop elements, particularly on albums produced with Danger Mouse such as «Brothers» and «El Camino». That period yielded some of their best-known songs, including «Lonely Boy», «Gold on the Ceiling», «Tighten Up» and «Little Black Submarines», tracks defined by fuzzed-out riffs, driving drums and Auerbach's raspy, soulful voice.

The Black Keys have continued to release music exploring different shades of blues and rock, from the atmospheric «Weight of Love» and «Fever» to the harder-edged «Lo/Hi», maintaining their reputation as a hugely influential force in modern rock while frequently returning to their blues roots for inspiration.