Over the past few months, there's been a great deal of speculation about why longtime rhythm guitarist Nick Valensi decided to take a " temporary break " from the Strokes. Valensi played on the Strokes' new album Reality Awaits , and his most recent performance with the band was at Coachella in April. Last year, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas mentioned that he no longer speaks with Valensi. But right now, speculation is all we have. The Strokes are touring without Valensi, and Valensi sometimes pops up onstage with other rock stars.

On Wednesday night, the Strokes played Dublin, with Longwave's Steve Schlitz filling in for Valensi, as he's done for the past few months. Valensi, meanwhile, was over in Paris, joining a different band onstage. Last month, Valensi joined Strokes contemporary Jack White at an LA show. And last night, Valensi popped up onstage when Duran Duran played Accor Arena.

Duran Duran are not exactly Strokes contemporaries, but Nick Valensi does have a connection to the band.…