The Black Keys are a blues-rock duo from Akron, Ohio, built on the raw energy of juke joint rockers and garage-rock grit. Since their 2001 formation, guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney have evolved from a scrappy blues outfit into a chart-topping force—expanding their sound through psychedelic experimentation, collaborations with producer Danger Mouse, and a serious love of blues tradition that keeps them grounded even as they push into new territory.
Starting with their 2002 debut The Big Come Up, the Black Keys climbed steadily through the mid-2000s, hitting a breakthrough moment with their 2010 album Brothers, which spawned hits like "Tighten Up" and earned three Grammy Awards. They've maintained momentum through highs and lows ever since: platinum albums like El Camino, a psychedelic turn with Turn Blue in 2014, a lengthy hiatus where Auerbach built his Easy Eye Sound studio and label, and a strong return starting with 2019's Let's Rock. Recent albums have seen them embrace their blues roots more openly—2021's Delta Kream covered Mississippi blues legends, while 2024's Ohio Players, their 12th LP, brought in an all-star roster including Noel Gallagher, Beck, and Juicy J for what became an upbeat, guest-heavy collection that showed the duo still has plenty of life left in them.
