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Arctic Monkeys

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band from Sheffield, founded in 2002 by neighbours and friends Alex Turner and Matt Helders, together with Andy Nicholson. Later the guitarist Jamie Cook joined and, in 2006, the bassist Nick O'Malley. The band played its first gig on 13 June 2003 at The Grapes in Sheffield. It recorded demos that it gave away free on CD, which fans then shared with one another over the internet. In this way many people heard its music before there was a contract. In 2005 it signed with the independent label Domino.

Music and breakthrough

The debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not appeared in 2006 and became the fastest-selling debut album in the British charts up to that time. It won the Brit Award for British Album of the Year in 2007. Favourite Worst Nightmare followed in 2007, Humbug in 2009 and Suck It and See in 2011. The international breakthrough came with AM in 2013 and the worldwide hit Do I Wanna Know?. After that, with Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino in 2018 and The Car in 2022, they chose a softer, piano-driven sound. The band won seven Brit Awards and was the first independent band to enter at number 1 with its first five albums.

Influence

Arctic Monkeys show how, in the internet age, a band could reach a large audience without a major record company. Turner's sharp lyrics about nightlife in an English city were part of this.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Do I Wanna Know? and notice the heavy, slow guitar riff and the handclaps. Can you hear how little the song needs to build tension?

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: Artists