Arctic Monkeys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys performing at the Roskilde Festival in 2014. From left to right: Nick O'Malley, Alex Turner, Matt Helders and Jamie Cook
Background information
Also known as	Death Ramps
Origin	Sheffield, England
Genres	Indie rock garage rock post-punk revival psychedelic rock alternative rock lounge pop
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Domino Warner
Members	Alex Turner Matt Helders Jamie Cook Nick O'Malley
Past members	Andy Nicholson

Arctic Monkeys are a famous rock band from Sheffield, England. They started making music in 2002. The band members are Alex Turner (lead singer), Matt Helders (drummer), Jamie Cook (guitarist), and Nick O'Malley (bassist). Their first bassist, Andy Nicholson, left the group in 2006.

Arctic Monkeys became popular very quickly, partly because their music was shared online. Many people think they changed how new bands get noticed. Their first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), was a huge hit. It sold more copies in its first week than any other debut album in British history at the time. This album also won "Best British Album" at the 2007 Brit Awards.

Their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), was also very popular and won "Best British Album" in 2008. They continued to release successful albums like Humbug (2009) and ... It and See (2011).

The band became even more famous worldwide with their fifth album, AM (2013). This album included the global hit song "Do I Wanna Know?". AM topped several music charts in the US and won "British Album of the Year" at the 2014 BRIT Awards. Their sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018), had a different sound, focusing more on piano. Their seventh album, The Car, came out in 2022. It was nominated for important music awards like the Ivor Novello Awards and the Mercury Prize.

In the UK, Arctic Monkeys were the first band from an independent record label to have their first five albums go straight to number one. They have won many awards, including seven Brit Awards and a Mercury Prize. Both Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and AM are listed among the greatest albums of all time by music magazines.

Band History

How Arctic Monkeys Started (2002–2005)

Arctic Monkeys began in mid-2002. Friends Alex Turner, Matt Helders, and Andy Nicholson formed the band. Alex and Matt were neighbors and close friends. They met Andy in school. Alex's dad was a music teacher, so he grew up around music.

At first, Alex played guitar, Matt played drums, and Andy played bass. Jamie Cook joined as a second guitarist. Alex was shy about being the lead singer, but he was good with words, so he eventually took on that role.

The band practiced in Sheffield and played their first show on June 13, 2003. They started recording demo songs, which are early versions of songs. They made 18 demos, known as Beneath the Boardwalk. They burned these songs onto CDs and gave them away at their shows. Fans then shared these songs online. The band didn't mind, saying they just wanted people to hear their music.

Their popularity grew in northern England. They got attention from BBC Radio and newspapers. A photographer named Mark Bull filmed their performances and put the music video for "Fake Tales of San Francisco" online. The band's MySpace page, created by fans, also helped them become known.

In May 2005, Arctic Monkeys released an EP called Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys. It had songs like "Fake Tales of San Francisco". This EP was limited but also available to download. Soon after, they played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, which is a big deal for new bands.

In June 2005, they signed with Domino. They liked that the label's owner ran it from his home and only signed bands he truly liked. Their first single, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", came out in October 2005. It immediately went to number one in the UK. Their second single, "When the Sun Goes Down", also hit number one in January 2006. Their success with little advertising showed a new way for bands to get famous.

First Album Success (2006)

Arctic Monkeys performing in 2006

The band finished recording their first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, in January 2006. It became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, selling over 363,000 copies in its first week. It even sold more copies on its first day than the next 20 albums combined!

The album cover, showing a friend of the band smoking, caused some discussion. However, the band's manager said it showed that smoking wasn't good for you. The album was also released in the US and did well there. Music critics in the UK loved the album, with NME magazine calling it the "5th greatest British album of all time".

Arctic Monkeys quickly recorded new songs and released a five-track EP in April 2006. Soon after, bassist Andy Nicholson left the band because he was tired from touring and couldn't handle the band's sudden fame. Nick O'Malley took his place as the new bassist.

Their first song without Andy, "Leave Before the Lights Come On", came out in August 2006. It reached number 4 in the UK. Two weeks later, their debut album won the Mercury Prize, a very important music award.

Second Album: Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)

Headshots of the current line-up; clockwise from bottom left: Alex Turner, Nick O'Malley, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders

The band's second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, was released in April 2007. It also quickly reached number one in the UK album charts. Alex Turner said the songs were "very different" and "a bit full-on." Critics praised the album, calling it "very, very fast and very, very loud."

The band continued to win awards, including "Best New Artist" in the US and "Album of the Year" in Japan and Ireland. They won "Best British Band" and "Best British Album" at the 2008 BRIT Awards. For the second year in a row, they were nominated for the Mercury Prize.

When Favourite Worst Nightmare came out, all 12 songs from the album appeared in the UK Singles Chart. They released "Fluorescent Adolescent" as a single, which reached number 5. The band even performed it on a TV show dressed as clowns!

In its first week, the album sold over 227,000 copies. By 2018, it had sold over 821,000 copies in the UK. In the US, it debuted at number seven.

Arctic Monkeys headlined the Glastonbury Festival in June 2007, a huge honor for any band. They also played massive concerts in Dublin and Manchester, with the Manchester shows being called "the gigs of a generation" by NME.

New Sound with Humbug (2008–2010)

Arctic Monkeys at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, March 2010

After a short break, during which Alex Turner worked on another music project, the band started recording their third album. They worked with producer Josh Homme from the band Queens of the Stone Age. Alex Turner said they listened to artists like Nick Cave and Jimi Hendrix while writing the new songs.

The album, titled Humbug, was released in August 2009. Like their previous albums, it went straight to number one in the UK. Critics said the band had explored new sounds and that Alex Turner's songwriting had become even better.

The first single from Humbug was "Crying Lightning", released in July 2009. It reached number 12 in the UK. The band toured worldwide for the Humbug album, headlining big festivals like Reading and Leeds Festivals and Exit festival.

Suck It and See and More Success (2011–2012)

Lead vocalist Alex Turner at Lollapalooza in Chicago, August 2011

In 2011, Arctic Monkeys announced their fourth album, ... It and See. They worked with producer James Ford again. The album was recorded in Los Angeles. Before the album came out, they released a new song called "Brick by Brick" to give fans a taste of the new music.

The album's first single, "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair", was released in April 2011. The band let fans listen to the whole album on their website before it was officially released. ... It and See came out in June 2011 and went straight to number one. This made Arctic Monkeys only the second band in history to have four albums in a row debut at the top of the charts.

The album was very successful, selling over 82,000 copies in its first week in the UK. Mojo magazine named it one of the best albums of 2011.

Arctic Monkeys went on a big tour in May 2011. They headlined major festivals like Benicàssim Festival and V Festival. They also played two huge shows in their hometown of Sheffield. The tour continued into 2012, including a North American tour supporting the band the Black Keys.

Global Fame with AM (2013–2016)

Arctic Monkeys performing at the InMusic Festival on 25 June 2013. The concert was a part of the AM Tour.

In February 2012, the band released a new song called "R U Mine?". It quickly became popular. In July, Arctic Monkeys performed at the London Summer Olympics opening ceremony. They played "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together".

In May 2013, they started their AM Tour and played a new song called "Do I Wanna Know?". This song became a global hit. The band's fifth album, AM, was released in September 2013. It featured guest artists like Josh Homme.

AM received excellent reviews from music critics. Many called it the best album of their career. It debuted at number one in the UK, selling over 157,000 copies in its first week. This made Arctic Monkeys the first independent label band to have five number one albums in a row in the UK. The album also won the Brit Award for "Best British Album". In the US, AM became their highest-charting album. Alex Turner described AM as their "most original album yet," mixing hip-hop drum beats with 1970s rock.

In 2014, Arctic Monkeys played huge shows at Finsbury Park and headlined the Reading and Leeds Festival again. After the AM Tour, the band took a break. Alex Turner and Matt Helders worked on other music projects during this time.

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2017–2021)

The band's 2018 performance at the Royal Albert Hall, which was later released as Live at the Royal Albert Hall in 2020.

In December 2016, Alex Turner confirmed that the band was working on their sixth album. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino was released in May 2018. This album was a big change from their previous guitar-heavy sound. It focused more on piano.

The album was generally well-received and became their sixth consecutive number-one album in the UK. It was also the fastest-selling vinyl record in the UK in 25 years. The album was promoted by singles like "Four Out of Five".

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2018, making it their fourth nomination for the award. It was also nominated for "Best Alternative Music Album" at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. Many music publications listed it as one of the best albums of 2018.

In December 2020, the band released a live album called Live at the Royal Albert Hall. All the money from this album went to the charity War Child.

The Car and Recent Tours (2022–Present)

Turner on stage at Glastonbury Festival in England, June 2023

In December 2021, Arctic Monkeys were announced as a headliner for the 2022 Reading and Leeds Festivals. In August 2022, they played a new song called "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am" at a festival. The next day, they announced their seventh album, The Car, which was released in October 2022.

The first single from The Car was "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball", followed by "Body Paint". The Car reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and number 6 on the Billboard 200 in the US.

Like its previous album, The Car was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2023. This was their fifth nomination, tying the record for most nominations by any artist. It was also nominated for "Best Alternative Music Album" at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Critics praised The Car, with NME calling it the best album of the year.

In June 2023, the band headlined the Glastonbury Festival again, even though Alex Turner had a throat infection.

Musical Style and Influences

Arctic Monkeys' music is often called indie rock, garage rock, and alternative rock. A key part of their sound is Alex Turner's clever and fast lyrics, often sung in his strong Sheffield accent. The poet John Cooper Clarke was a big influence on Alex Turner's writing.

Their first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, explored life in nightclubs and their hometown of Sheffield. Songs like "Dancing Shoes" were about people looking for partners when they go out.

On their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, they continued these themes but with a faster and more energetic sound. Songs like "Fluorescent Adolescent" talked about failed relationships and growing older.

Their third album, Humbug, marked a change. It had a more psychedelic rock and hard rock sound, influenced by producer Josh Homme. The band wanted to try something new.

Their fourth album, ... It and See, mixed their older styles with a new maturity. Alex Turner said it balanced the humor of their early songs with the deeper sounds of Humbug. This album had more slower, love-themed songs.

For their fifth album, AM, the band mixed hip hop drum beats with 1970s heavy rock. Alex Turner said it was like a "Dr. Dre beat" mixed with rock. He mentioned Outkast, Aaliyah, and Black Sabbath as influences for this album.

Their sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, was very different. It moved away from guitars and focused on a more complex, piano-based style. Alex Turner explained that he wrote the songs on piano because the guitar wasn't giving him new ideas anymore.

Their seventh album, The Car, finds a middle ground between their rock sound and the slower style. It includes elements of art rock, orchestral rock, lounge pop, and even funk and jazz. Alex Turner said they always follow their instincts, which hasn't changed since they started.

Alex Turner has mentioned being a fan of Oasis and the Eagles. He also listened to hip hop artists like Eminem and Wu-Tang Clan. He named John Lennon, Ray Davies, and Nick Cave as major influences on his lyrics.

Legacy and Influence

Arctic Monkeys are considered one of the most important and beloved bands in the UK. They are known for being consistent throughout their career. The English poet John Cooper Clarke called them "the nearest thing" to the Beatles.

When their first album came out, critics said Arctic Monkeys changed how people discovered music because of their online fanbase. They were praised for showing British youth culture and helping to bring back British indie music. NME magazine called them "Our Generation's Most Important Band."

Many famous musicians have praised Arctic Monkeys, including Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, and rapper RZA. Even Bob Dylan made "special efforts" to see them play live, and David Bowie called them "a nice solid Brit band." Damon Albarn called them "the last great guitar band."

Arctic Monkeys have influenced many newer artists, such as Black Midi, Blossoms, Fontaines D.C., The 1975, Halsey, Billie Eilish, and Måneskin.

Band Members

Timeline

Touring musicians timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)
• Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
• Humbug (2009)
• ... It and See (2011)
• AM (2013)
• Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018)
• The Car (2022)

Concert Tours

• Whatever People Say I Am Tour (2005–2006)
• Favourite Worst Nightmare Tour (2007–2008)
• Humbug Tour (2009–2010)
• ... It and See Tour (2011–2012)
• AM Tour (2013–2014)
• Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Tour (2018–2019)
• The Car Tour (2022–2023)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Arctic Monkeys para niños