Arctic Monkeys: Everything you need to know about the music legends
They headlined Glasto 2023
Unless you've been living under a soundproof rock for the last two decades, you will have undoubtedly heard of the legendary Arctic Monkeys. Churning out hits such as 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor', 'When The Sun Goes Down' and 'R U Mine?', the band have achieved monumental world-wide fame with their ever-changing sound since they burst onto the music scene in 2005.
After the release of their seventh album 'The Car', them finishing the UK leg of their tour AND a packed Glastonbury 2023 headline slot, it's a good time to get to know the 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' legends. Want to know more about what they're working on now? Keep reading...
Who are the members of Arctic Monkeys?
Currently, the Arctic Monkeys members are Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Nick O'Malley.
Alex provides lead vocals and rhythmic guitar, along with the occasional stint on keyboard and percussion. Jamie provides lead guitar, along with keyboard and backing vocals, Matt plays the drums and provides backing vocals, whilst Nick plays bass and also provides occasional backing vocals.
Former member Andy Nicholson, who played the bass guitar, was in the band for four years, spanning from 2002-2006.
When did the band start?
Arctic Monkeys started back in 2002, as an instrumental only group. Alex and Matt, who were close friends and neighbours at the time, teamed up with their pal Andy to form the group. After the addition of Jamie, the Arctic Monkeys played their first official gig in 2003 and soon began recording demo tracks.
Where are they from?
The Arctic Monkeys are from Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. The band’s first ever gig in 2003 was at a pub in Sheffield City Centre called The Grapes.
How did Arctic Monkeys become famous?
The Arctic Monkeys began to gain popularity as they handed out CDs, containing their 18 demo tracks, at various gigs. The group also gained quite the following on the social media platform MySpace, and are now described as one of the first bands to come to the public’s attention through the Internet.
The band’s large following on MySpace aided them in the promotion of their debut EP 'Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys', which was released in 2005. Following on from this - when performing on the Carling Stage, reserved for unsigned/less known bands, at both Reading and Leeds Festivals, the gang attracted an unusually large crowd.
In their early days, Arctic Monkeys would attend, and often play support, at fellow Sheffield band Milburn's gigs. Many fans have since drawn comparisons between the two bands' music, claiming there is a striking similarity between their chords and lyrics.
What was their first song?
Despite recording multiple demo tracks from the moment they formed back in 2002, the Arctic Monkeys first official single was the iconic ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’. The debut track was released in October 2005, and flew straight to the Number 1 spot on the UK Singles Chart.
The track, which featured on their 2006 debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not’, was ranked Number 7 on NME's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was nominated for multiple awards.
WATCH: Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Their latest music
Much to fan's delight, Arctic Monkeys debuted a brand new song on 23rd August 2022 called ‘I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am’, at Zürich Openair in Switzerland. The track served as the first taster of their seventh album, titled 'The Car'.
'The Car' is Arctic Monkeys' seventh studio album, and was released on Friday 21st October 2022 via Domino Records. It features 10 tracks, including ‘I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am’, and hit Number 2 in the UK Albums Chart.
Matt Helders on the band's new music
Prior to the release of their seventh album, the band's very own Matt Helders gave an update on their incoming new music in January 2022, addressing their ever-changing sound and obstacles the album faced.
The drummer spoke on an Instagram Live, revealing that the band were in the "early stages" of writing their new record, however the process was being hindered by the pandemic. The drummer explained that they were facing "obvious obstacles" and "being separated by the sea is one of them."
Do they have a new sound?
Matt also chatted about the new Arctic Monkeys material back in May 2022, saying it "is never gonna be like (2012 anthem) ‘R U Mine?’ and all that stuff again, you know, the heavy riffs and stuff."
He added then added: "But there are riffs in there and (it’s) a bit more up-tempo, even though it’s not loud."
How many albums have Arctic Monkeys released?
Arctic Monkeys have released a total of seven studio albums, along with two live albums.
Their studio albums include: ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not’ (2006), ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ (2007), ‘Humbug’ (2009), ‘Suck It and See’ (2011), ‘AM’ (2013), ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ (2018) and 'The Car' (2022).
Check out the changing sound of the Arctic Monkeys here.
A quick guide to Arctic Monkeys' studio albums:
'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', 2006
An instant classic upon its release in the opening overs of 2006, Arctic Monkeys' 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' was already familiar to the hundreds of thousands of fans who not only propelled it to the top of the UK album charts, but also made it the fasting-selling debut album in UK chart history.
The Sheffield quartet – singer/guitarist Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook, drummer Matt Helders and bassist Andy Nicholson (later replaced by Nick O'Malley) – had already amassed a legion of fans before any official recordings were released thanks to their canny harnessing of the possibilities and opportunities afforded by the next generation of internet and digital platforms. So it was that their demos were distributed via free CDS at gigs, with fans then sharing the tracks.
'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', 2006
Musically, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' takes The Strokes' debut album 'Is This Is It?' as its template while delivering on the broken promises of The Libertines and making a few nods in the direction of Franz Ferdinand's angular grooves. Crucially, the landscape painted by Alex Turner's sharp observations isn't some mythical romanticising of a national ideal, but a witty and incisive portrait of the nightlife of the towns and cities up and down the country – and, more specifically, Sheffield.
Consider the evidence: Number 1 single, 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor', 'You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me' and 'Dancing Shoes' examine the politics and navigation of clubbing. 'From The Ritz To The Rubble' is seen from the bouncer's point of view as elsewhere 'When The Sun Goes Down' – their second single and chart topper - takes its inspiration from the after-hours workings of a red light area.
'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', 2006
Almost two decades down the line and 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' still holds up. A snapshot of a particular time and place, it reveals how much and how just how little has changed in the intervening years.
Other album tracks include: 'The View from the Afternoon', 'Fake Tales of San Francisco', 'Still Take You Home', 'Riot Van, 'Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured', 'Mardy Bum', 'Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But...' and 'A Certain Romance'.
'Favourite Worst Nightmare', 2007
Given the Hosannas showered upon Arctic Monkeys by the press in the wake of their debut album, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', and a sideboard groaning under the weight of awards – Q's Best Album and Album Of The Year from Time and Ireland's Hot Press among many others, as well as that prize-winning cheque from the Barclaycard Mercury Prize – it would've been perhaps forgivable if Arctic Monkeys had buckled under the pressure.
'Favourite Worst Nightmare', 2007
Released just over year after its predecessor, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is the sound of band truly developing its own sound and identity. This isn't an album that's been agonised over or thought about too deeply; as evidenced by the singles 'Brianstorm', 'Flourescent Adolescent' and 'Teddy Picker', a year of solid gigging and youthful energy sharpened the band's reserve, playing and, in the case of Alex Turner's songwriting, widen the lyrical concerns that come with seeing a world beyond their hometown.
'Favourite Worst Nightmare', 2007
Arctic Monkeys could have succumbed to hubris, complacency or the burden of success. Instead, album tracks such as 'Do Me A Favour' and closer '505' reveal a depth in maturity and emotional resonance that proved that the quartet were here for the long run.
Other album tracks include: 'D Is for Dangerous', 'Balaclava', 'Only Ones Who Know', 'This House Is a Circus', 'If You Were There, Beware', 'The Bad Thing' and 'Old Yellow Bricks'.
'Humbug', 2009
The news that Arctic Monkeys, a band that at this point was still very much defined by its Sheffield roots, would be working with Queens Of The Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme was met with more than just a few raised eyebrows. Surely this combination of angular, indie rock and one of the key architects of stoner rock was to clash too harshly?
Whatever fears were aired, they were soon allayed with the evidence presented within the grooves of 'Humbug'. Less an encounter in one party trying to dominate the other, this was a meeting of minds, talents and ideas that took Arctic Monkeys out of their domestic comfort zone and into New York, Los Angeles at the Mojave Desert.
'Humbug', 2009
For his part, Homme didn't impose himself on Arctic Monkeys. Instead, the two parties found common ground as they brought out the best in each other. 'Humbug' is recognisably Arctic Monkeys, but the sound here is more muscular thanks to sympathetic production that enhances rather than overwhelms with addition of extra instrumentation.
The bass that ushers in lead single 'Crying Lightning' is a statement of intent that heralds Arctic Monkeys' new found strength, while 'My Propeller' smooths down the rough edges while widening the panorama. It may not have received the plaudits of its predecessors, but hindsight reveals 'Humbug' to be a vital stepping-stone in the recorded trajectory of Arctic Monkeys.
Other album tracks include: 'Dangerous Animals', 'Secret Door', 'Potion Approaching', 'Fire and the Thud', 'Cornerstone', 'Dance Little Liar', 'Pretty Visitors' and 'The Jeweller's Hands'.
'Suck It And See', 2011
The title of Arctic Monkeys' fourth album is something of a misnomer. Perhaps stung by a reception for 'Humbug' that didn't quite match the enthusiasm that greeted their first two albums, 'Suck It And See' found Arctic Monkeys adopting the back-to-basics approach of their debut, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'.
With the material written in rehearsed well in advance of their return to the studio, many of the album's 12 songs were recorded live in the studio with the minimum of overdubs. And while it's evident that the band has matured, 'Suck It And See' is possessed of that nervous energy that characterised their earlier material. It's there on the title track and the single 'Black Treacle'.
'Suck It And See', 2011
But there are also lessons learned from their time with Josh Homme. Lead single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' is a gloriously swaggering beast with a lip curl that's part confidence, part insouciance, while 'Brick By Brick' shows just how far they'd travelled since their classic debut.
Other album tracks include: 'She's Thunderstorms', 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala', 'Library Pictures', 'All My Own Stunts', 'Reckless Serenade', 'Piledriver Waltz', 'Love Is a Laserquest' and 'That's Where You're Wrong'.
'AM', 2013
If 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' was the sound of teenagers observing tentative nights out in the city, then 'AM' is made up of the nocturnal adventures of men in their late 20s. And they sound utterly brilliant for it.
Indeed, 'AM' is a consolidation of all that has gone before it and delivered with all the confidence of a band hitting its stride at the point when most groups flounder, wither and die. Blending the razor-sharp indie smarts of their youth with the heady and heavy rock that had been introduced under Josh Homme's tutorage, Arctic Monkeys also introduce the hitherto untapped influences of hip-hop and R'n'B.
'AM', 2013
There's a salacious grind at the heart of 'Do I Wanna Know?' and that naughtiness works its way into 'Arabella'. Elsewhere, those late nights are evoked on 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?'.
Josh Homme, no slouch himself when it comes to hedonistic pursuits, said of 'AM': "It's a really cool, sexy after-midnight record." He's not wrong, but he might also have added that Arctic Monkeys had also just delivered another classic to their cannon.
Other album tracks include: 'R U Mine?', 'One for the Road', 'I Want It All', 'No.1 Party Anthem', 'Mad Sounds', 'Fireside', 'Snap Out of It', 'Knee Socks' and 'I Wanna Be Yours'.
'Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino', 2018
The five-year gap between the release of albums may have suggested a band resting on its laurels or simply running out of ideas, but the reality was far different. 'Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino' finds Arctic Monkeys doing what so many bands refuse to countenance – taking a chance. Indeed, the band's sixth studio album is such a radical departure from the hook-laden rock music that made their name that fans are still divided over the record's merits.
Yet for all that, it still became their sixth consecutive No. 1 album in the UK whilst becoming the country's fastest-selling album in a quarter of a century, in part thanks to the legions of fans who pre-ordered the record. And then there were the nominations for the 2018 Mercury Prize and the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
'Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino', 2018
And with good reason. The album may lack the immediacy of its predecessors, but the charms of the title track and 'Four Out Of Five' reveal the songs to be sophisticated pop pearls that continue to sparkle and beguile. Indeed, repeat listens peel away layer after layer until you're left with a gem that'll last a lifetime.
Other album tracks include: 'Star Treatment', 'One Point Perspective', 'American Sports', 'Golden Trunks', 'The World's First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip', 'Science Fiction', 'She Looks Like Fun', 'Batphone' and 'The Ultracheese'.
'The Car', 2022
Before Arctic Monkeys' seventh album 'The Car' was released in October 2022, we had an inkling of what to expect as drummer Matt Helders revealed it would "never" sound like 'R U Mine?'
Duly, 'The Car' is Arctic Monkeys' second consecutive lo-fi indie musical tour-de-force that features music Alex Turner wants to make rather than rehashing old ideas or appeasing the casual fans.
'The Car', 2022
Widely lauded by critics, it's a masterly crafted album packed with pertinent and oft hard-hitting lyrics and innovative, beguiling and cinematic sounds. Gems are aplenty from the hypnotic 'There'd Better Be a Mirrorball' to the truly exquisite 'Body Paint.'
Full track listing is: 'There'd Better Be A Mirrorball', 'I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am', 'Sculptures Of Anything Goes', 'Jet Skis On The Moat', 'Body Paint', 'The Car', 'Big Ideas', 'Hello You', 'Mr Schwartz', 'Perfect Sense'.
Arctic Monkeys 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall'
On Friday 4th December 2020 the Arctic Monkeys released their live album 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall', which featured 20 of their tracks recorded at the world-renowned London venue on 7th June 2018.
The band joined forces with charity The War Child for the concert, marking their first UK show in almost four years. Proceeds from the concert went directly to the charity, as well as proceeds from the album.
How many songs do Arctic Monkeys have?
Within their seven studio albums and five EPs, it’s fair to say that the Arctic Monkeys have a pretty large portfolio of songs, making it rather hard to determine the exact total number of songs the band have.
As of 2024, they have released a total of 23 singles.
Which awards have the band won?
Raking in over 100 nominations for various awards over the years, the Arctic Monkeys have a pretty impressive collection of wins under their belt. Since taking home the BRIT Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2006, the band have gone on to win six more BRITs - these being British Group, three times, and British Album of the Year, three times.
The Monkeys were nominated for British Group at the BRIT Awards 2023, but lost out to newcomers Wet Leg - who also proceeded to parody Alex Turner's infamous BRITs acceptance speech from 2014 whilst picking up their gong for Best New Artist!
Although the Arctic Monkeys will not be eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2031, the same cannot be said for Alex Turner’s clobber. To many fans’ delight, the legendary front man’s leather jacket, which he wore during the band’s 2013-2014 ‘AM Tour’, made its way to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame museum in 2017.
Also adding to the band’s list of achievements, they have been awarded 20 NME Awards, whilst achieving an impressive five GRAMMY Award nominations.
Are they on tour?
Arctic Monkeys aren't on tour right now. Following the release of their seventh album 'The Car', they did embark on a huge UK and Ireland stadium tour in 2023.
Touring throughout late May and June 2023, the band kicked off at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday 29th May 2023. The tour also included two homecoming shows at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Park and two massive dates at London’s Emirates Stadium.
Arctic Monkeys at Glastonbury 2023
The Monkeys headlined Glastonbury for the third time in their career for its 2023 iteration, having previously performed on the Pyramid Stage in 2007 and 2013. They performed fan favourites across all seven of their records including 'Fluorescent Adolescent', 'Do I Wanna Know?' and 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor'.
Now read:
The changing sound of Arctic Monkeys
The meanings behind 18 of Arctic Monkeys' songs
Arctic Monkeys release 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall' album raising money for War Child