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American rock duo from Akron, Ohio, known for their raw blues rock and garage rock revival sound.Formed in 2001 in Akron, Ohio, The Black Keys consist of guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Initially recording lo-fi blues-rock albums in Carney's basement, they gained a cult following. Their breakthrough came with the 2010 album 'Brothers' and its hit 'Tighten Up', produced by Danger Mouse. Known for their prolific output and gritty sound, they have won multiple Grammy Awards and achieved mainstream success while maintaining their independent roots.

• The band's name came from a schizophrenic artist acquaintance of Auerbach's father, who used the term 'black keys' to describe people he disliked.
• Their early albums, like 'The Big Come Up' (2002) and 'Thickfreakness' (2003), were famously recorded in Carney's basement on an 8-track tape machine, contributing to their raw, lo-fi aesthetic.
• Collaboration with producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) on 'Attack & Release' (2008), 'Brothers' (2010), and 'El Camino' (2011) marked a significant shift towards a more polished, accessible sound and brought them massive commercial success.
• After the intense touring for 'El Camino', the duo took an extended hiatus starting in 2015 to pursue solo projects (Auerbach's The Arcs, Carney's Sad Planets) and production work, reuniting in 2019 for the album 'Let's Rock'.
• Despite their massive success, they have maintained a reputation for being fiercely independent, initially releasing music on small labels and handling much of their own production early on.