The Black Keys personify the success that most musicians dream of. The rock duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have risen through the ranks of stardom, evolving from a garage band working in makeshift studios into one of the most iconic bands of the 2010s.

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Famous for their bluesy sound and loyalty to classic rock styles of guitar, and the occasional hint of bluegrass, Auerbach and Carney now enjoy a phenomenal following, millions of dollars, multiple Grammys, and so much more. So how did it happen? What is the key to The Black Keys?

8 They Debuted In 2002

Both Auerbach and Carney grew up in Akron, Ohio, and met when they were children. The pair were neighbors who, coincidentally, came from families with backgrounds in music. Auerbach has a cousin who was big in New York's avant-garde rock scene and Carney's uncle played saxophone for Tom Waits. They became close friends in high school and soon started jamming together. Auerbach attempted to make a living playing guitar in bars and asked Carney to help him record some demos. They sent the demos out and were eventually picked up by the small Indie label, ALIVE. In 2002, they recorded The Big Come Up, their first album which was also totally self-produced. Thus, The Black Keys were born.

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7 They Got Critical Acclaim In 2004

The Big Come Up was recorded in Carney's basement. The two would not use a real-life studio until their 2008 hit album, Attack and Release. But before then they would record two other albums in their makeshift studios. They also recorded a handful of LPs and EPs. Their 3rd "studio" album was Rubber Factory in 2004, and it was one of their first albums to find widespread critical success. Publications like Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and The New Yorker began to give the band serious attention. That attention would pay off.

6 They Worked With One Of The Biggest Producers In The Industry In 2008

They continued to write and record independent of the studio system. That is until Danger Mouse, the famous producer and 1/2 of another duo, Gnarls Barkley, hired the pair to record tracks for an album he was producing for Ike Turner. After Turner's death, the pair decided to use their tracks to make their 5th studio album. With the help of Danger Mouse, who would go on to be one of their most frequent collaborators, Attack and Release was their first album not recorded in a make-shift studio. Tracks from the song would see massive commercial success. The biggest songs on the album were "Strange Times" which found play in video games and sporting events, and "I Got Mine" which Rolling Stone named one of the best singles of the year.

5 They Won Their First Grammy In 2010

They were on the rise after this, and in 2010 came an explosion of their popularity. Now with their own studio in Nashville, the pair recorded Brothers and the track "Tighten Up" from the album went on to become their first Billboard chart-topper. Both Brothers and "Tighten Up" won the 2011 Grammy for their categories and from here on out, The Black Keys were officially mainstream successes. There are several musicians far more well established at this point who have still not won a Grammy yet.

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4 They Started Playing Arenas In 2011

Thanks to the attention they got from Danger Mouse, their Grammy wins, and the several other awards that Brothers earned them. The duo was ready to go even bigger. El Camino, their 2011 album, saw massive success, especially thanks to the hit track "Lonely Boy" which made it to number 2 on the Billboard charts that year. They began their first ever stadium and arena tour in 2012 and sold out shows across the United States.

3 They Took A Hiatus In 2015

Their 8th studio album, True Blue came out in 2015 and once again, earned them several award nominations. They received critical acclaim once again and also toured in massive stadiums and arenas. After concluding their 2015 tour they announced a hiatus to focus on their many solo and side projects. The hiatus, unlike that of other popular duos, only last a few years.

2 They Returned In 2019

Auerbach and Carney got back together officially in 2019 to give the world Lets Rock. The four-year gap between this album and Turn Blue was the longest gap between any of their other albums. They soon returned to writing and recording practically every year. Since reuniting they have given us two other studio albums, Delta Kream in 2021 and Dropout Boogie in 2022.

1 What Is Their Net Worth Today?

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney both now enjoy a net worth of approximately $20 million each. And they show no signs of slowing down their work. Whether that means they continue as a duo or will find success in their individual ventures is irrelevant. Either way, the pair has enjoyed and continues to enjoy phenomenal success thanks to the fact they started jamming together in high school. It just goes to show that you never know how far one artistic venture can take you.