[6] The band formed in the town of Cavan in Ireland with the original line-up consisting of McClorey (10 September 1995), Walsh (30 October 1996), O'Hanlon (20 February 1996) on vocals, Jack Hayden (19 December 1995) and Conor Bates (guitar).

It was led by a version of the Bo Diddley song "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" and also featured material penned by Billy Boy Arnold, Slim Harpo and Eddie Holland.

Since signing, the band has begun playing venues across the UK and have appeared in music magazines such as NME and Mojo, as well as several national newspapers.

Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Dave Grohl, Roger Daltrey, and Miles Kane are all known fans of the band.

On 28 March 2013 the band released its debut single on Mercury Records, an original track titled "Blue Collar Jane".

During April 2013 the band featured live on the popular BBC2 television programme Later... with Jools Holland, along with other musical artists Suede, Laura Mvula and Cat Power.

The band's second single, "Hometown Girls" (backed by live versions of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday Blues" and the traditional "CC Rider" recorded at King Tut's, Glasgow) was released as a download in May 2013 and on vinyl on 8 July.

In November 2016, the band announced a limited edition run of 500 vinyl only singles available exclusively from their website with all proceeds going to the teenage Cancer charity Canteen.

It was released on the Reckless Records label The double-A-side features versions of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" and Stefan Murphy's "Down at the Radiotron".

In March 2017, the band began touring smaller venues in Ireland to road test new material for a third studio album scheduled for release in June 2017.

[17] On 14 November 2018, 7 months after cancelling the remainder of their Spitting Image tour due to drummer Evan Walsh being unfit to perform,[18][19] the band announced their breakup through a post on their Instagram page.

In an interview with Indie Buddy in 2020, Walsh stated that the band split-up because the members wanted to go in a different musical direction but were being pressured by their label to stick to a certain style.

[20] Following the break-up of the Strypes, the band members continued their musical careers, with guitarist Josh McClorey releasing his first solo single "Everything Was Easy" in 2020[21] and singer Ross Farelly, bassist Pete O'Hanlon and drummer Evan Walsh forming the band the Zen Arcade, releasing their debut single "Don't Say A Word" in 2020.

[24] The Strypes have cited Dr. Feelgood[1] and the Yardbirds[1] as their main musical influences, but members have also cited The Beatles,[2] The Who,[25] Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley,[2] The Jam, Willie Dixon,[26] Little Richard, Elvis Costello,[27] The Ramones, The New York Dolls,[27] The Undertones, Squeeze,[27] Rockpile,[2] The Housemartins,[28] Dave Edmunds, Royal Blood,[1] Lew Lewis, Johnny Marr,[28] The Animals, Johnny Thunder,[27] Nine Below Zero, Thin Lizzy,[27] Eddie Cochran,[25] Jimmy Reed, Dave Evnans Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf,[2]Them, The Fratellis,[2]The Pirates, Blur,[1] Elmore James, AC/DC,[27] Nick Lowe,[2] Muddy Waters, The Cars,[25] Sonny Boy Williamson II, The Bohicas,[1]John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Kaiser Chiefs,[2] Jamie T,[1] Slim Harpo, Robert Johnson, Billy Boy Arnold, Lead Belly, Kendrick Lamar,[1] John Lee Hooker and Jerry Lee Lewis as influences.