Over There, There's Friends of Mine

How the Arctic Monkey have defined two generations.

The Start

Arctic Monkeys formed in 2002 in Sheffield, with the four original members. Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Andy Nicholson. The four members were friends and knew each other before forming the band, knowing each other from school, Turner and Helders lived in the same street and were very close. Originally Turner was reluctant to become the bands front man but it was decided he would be best for the role as time went on, due to his ability to write songs. 

On the 13th June 2003 after a few months of rehearsing at Yellow Arch Studios, the band played their first gig at The Grapes pub. The set was predominantly made up of covers, however the band did play two originals 'Ravey Ravey Ravey Club' and 'Curtains Closed' these two songs would later make the bands 'Beneath the Boardwalk' collection. This was a collection of 18 songs that the band would record and burn onto CD's that would be given away at gigs. Once fans had these CD's they were file shared around to others, but the band did not mind. It was the plan all along. "We never made those demos to make money or anything. We were giving them away free anyway – that was a better way for people to hear them.

It worked. The bands popularity grew and grew, BBC Radio picked them up and began to play some of their songs. Fans of the band began to set up a social media presence particularity on MySpace which shared the bands music and footage of the early live gigs, to a much broader audience. These songs were gathering traction and although they may not have known it at the time. 7 of the songs from 'Beneath the Boardwalk' would become cornerstones of a debut album.

Domino would sign the band in June 2005 and would help the band record their debut single 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor' which would be released on the 17th October 2005 and go straight in at Number One. The bands second single 'When the Sun Goes Down' previously titled 'Scummy' would do the same, when released in January of 2006. This was unlike anything seen before, the Arctic Monkeys were the first band to understand how powerful the internet could be, even if they had done it by mistake.

It was only going to get bigger and better for the band, there debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' released in January 2006 became the fastest selling debut album in UK Chart History, on it's first day on sale the album sold more copies than the rest of the Top 20 combined. Meanwhile, the UK's NME magazine declared the band's debut album the "5th greatest British album of all time". Just a few days, yes days after it's release. Britain had something special here. 

The Anthems. 

Arctic Monkeys were not just a flash in the pan, this wasn't a band piggy backing a scene. These four lads from Sheffield were something very very special.  The debut album contains a collection of songs that most other bands would kill for from the two singles, through to 'Mardy Bum' and 'A Certain Romance' these songs have become part of the furniture especially in the UK, and even in other parts of the world these songs are instantly recognizable, and also relatable.  A band writing about their situation. 

Even after the success of this debut album, the band would continue to release EP's with hidden gems and absolute classics on. 'Leave Before the Lights Come On' never made an album, neither did 'Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts'. Even after all of this success the band did not slow down. 

'Favourite Worst Nightmare' followed in April 2007 and hit number one just as it's predecessor had. It's easy to describe this record, it's much more full on than the bands debut. Again this record is full of absolute classics 'Brianstorm' 'Fluorescent Adolescent' and '505' just to name a few. Even the album tracks have gone on gain cult status, songs like 'Do Me a Favour' and 'Old Yellow Bricks' are fan favourites and would go on to become live staples. The release of this album also meant the gigs were getting bigger, much much bigger but more on that later. 

Following the massive success of the previous two records, it would be easy to assume that the band would not mess with the formula. If it isn't broken, why fix it. That's not the Arctic Monkeys style as you will find out more as you keep reading. 'Humbug' the bands third record again went straight in at Number , but it was a very different album to what people were expecting. It was much heavier, darker, sludgier. First single 'Crying Lightning' was very different to anything released by the band previously, it was much slower, and it is arguably the first time we hear Alex's brilliant lyrics become the centre piece of a song. 'Cornerstone' would come next an acoustic effort that acted as a story more than a piece of indie pop. This made people stand up and listen, we had a masterful songwriter here, they weren't those teenage Sheffield upstarts anymore. 'Humbug' had taken the band into the dessert and they would come back as a whole different beast. By no means had the anthems gone away though. 

'Pretty Visitors', 'My Propeller' and 'Dance Little Liar' all feature on Humbug alongside the two songs I mentioned previously and these songs would add a new element to the bands sound and live shows, eventually in years to come becoming live staples. 

In 2011 after working with James Ford in Los Angeles the band would emerge with their fourth album 'Suck It & See' again it would reach Number One. In doing so, Arctic Monkeys became only the second band in history to debut four albums in a row at the top of the charts. Now this is my favourite Arctic Monkeys album, so expect a slightly less objective outlook (sorry). This album took what the band had done on the previous effort and and added a bit more of a pop sheen. Songs like 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' were equally as heavy as the music on 'Humbug' but there was also pyshdelic efforts like 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala' which was unlike anything the band had done before. Lyrically this album has some of Turner's best work, especially in the songs 'Reckless Serenade' 'Love is a Laserquest' and 'That's Where You're Wrong'.

Four albums in the band were going along well, they were comfortably the biggest band in England. However they were about to go stratospheric and in turn bring a new generation with them. 

'AM' the bands fifth album was released on the 9th September 2013, after a huge summer for the band where they would announce a UK Arena Tour and Headline Glastonbury for the second time (more on that later) the albums singles 'Do I Wanna Know' and 'R U Mine' had already gathered momentum and the albums third single 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' became the bands first Top 10 single since 2007's ' Fluorescent Adolescent' would the album live up to the hype, well it most certainly would.  

Described by the NME as 'Smart, randy and touched by genius, the Sheffield band’s fifth album is an absolute triumph from start to finish. And the best part? They’re just getting started...'

It took an amalgamation of influences from 90's West Coast Hip Hop to 70s rock riffs to John Lennon's vocal. This album shouldn't work but it does, and that's what makes it great. Even ten years on, it still sounds modern and fresh. The album where the band stopped being defined by a band or a scene, they were no longer rock, or indie. Think Bowie, think The Beatles, think Stevie Wonder, think Fleetwood Mac and think Bob Dylan. Alex Turner described this record best himself 'It sounds like a Dr Dre beat, but we've given it an Ike Turner bowl-cut and sent it galloping across the desert on a Stratocaster.'

This was the album that gripped a new generation, released on the cusp as my age group became teenagers, it was an album that was unlike anything else out at that time. It was one of the first albums that we could attach too, and attach to it we did. 

The Change

So you have become the biggest band in the world, and for the first time in a long time the biggest band in the world were the best band in the world. What do you do? Keep going, play bigger venues, record another album? 

Arctic Monkeys instead went on a hiatus, Turner would continue The Last Shadow Puppets, with friend Miles Kane, and Matt Helders would play drums for Iggy Pop. Eventually reconvening in September 2017, 3 years after the end of the AM tour. 

They would begin to record what would become their sixth album ' Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' which would be released in May 2018. Almost 5 years after the last album. Fans had waited a long time, many had expected a follow up to 'AM' in the same way 'Suck It & See' had taken elements of 'Humbug' what they got instead was something very different. It was very different in both sound and theme, a stark reinvention that none of us saw coming. Written around a concept, of a hotel and casino on the moon, and the characters that inhabit this mysterious place. Gone were the heavy riffs, and hip hop drums. Instead replaced by piano, and a lounge singer shimmer. Critics loved the record but fans were polarised. Although, there was no singles in particular 'Four Out of Five' has gone to become a fan favourite, and 'The Ultracheese' has been praised for some of Turners best lyrics.  

It was vastly different, more like David Bowie, and Leonard Cohen, than Black Sabbath or Dr Dre. The whole approach to this record, was different before it's release the band released no singles. This was a collection of songs that needed to be listened to as  a whole album. The whole record aimed to divide fans, and saw the band venture to new territories just as those landing on the moon at 'Tranquility Base' in 1969.

Despite the polarising opinions, the album became the bands sixth Number One record in the UK and gave the band another sell out UK Arena tour, including 6 nights at London's 02 Arena and 4 nights in there hometown Sheffield. The live environment is where these songs would come to life, and Alex Turner could bring the characters to the forefront of the experience. This tour also recieved a live album 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' with all proceeds going to War Child

The band would announce album number seven 'The Car' on the 24th August 2022 after a brief run out of live shows, including headlining Reading & Leeds in the UK. Finally released in October 2022 after a run of two singles  'There'd Better be a Mirrorball' 'Body Paint' and 'I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am' this album followed the same themes as the 2018 effort 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' however this was not always the case, originally the band had wanted to return to a more rock and riff driven sound. Yet it didn't feel right. 

It does not follow the concept album approach of the previous record however the theme of fame and show business is throughout. Along with the theme of nostalgia and espionage. It's full of sharp songwriting, innovation and a beautiful bond between the four friends Turner, Cook, O’Malley, Helders. Each member is present, guided by some of the best songs Alex has ever written. It's not just the four band members on this record they are backed up by an 18 piece string section that brings the record to life. 

A record that saw the band make a jump, again. Finally they felt they could take the songs into stadiums and an album that made the NME write this amazing quote. 'For now, though, Arctic Monkeys stand alone like the abandoned saloon on the rooftop: the last – and greatest – band of their generation still operating at their highest level'

The Gigs

Playing live is something Arctic Monkeys have always excelled at from there first gig at The Grapes all the way back in 2003, to the first Glastonbury headline show 20 years later. Although sometimes, it came to fast for them due to the nature of the success for example Arctic Monkeys headlined the Glastonbury Festival on 22 June 2007 and On 28–29 July 2007 the band played their biggest concert to date with two sell out shows at the 55,000 capacity Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. Billed as being the group's own 'mini-festivals' both date saw support sets for Supergrass, The Coral, Amy Winehouse and Japanese Beatles tribute act The Parrots. They played these three huge career defining moments before playing an arena show, it was sometimes detrimental to the band. However they adapted and came back stronger.

In 2007 only two albums in the band were not ready for Glastonbury, yet 5 years later in 2013, the band cemented themselves as Britain's most important band. Playing a now legendary set.  Ten years later in 2023 the band reminded us just why we love the Arctic Monkeys, and also played the festival on their own terms playing songs from 'Tranquility Base' & 'The Car' proving they could hang out in these huge fields. 

If they hadn't already proved that with their summer stadium tour around the UK. It took the Arctic Monkeys 17 years to feel comfortable in these venues but it meant that they would play them on there terms. No gimmicks, no crazy collaborations, no special guests. Just the songs, the songs that sound tracked, the audiences lives from 2005 to 2023. By not playing stadiums until 'The Car' tour, they became one of the best arena bands, across the globe building fan bases from Sheffield to Santiago. Seattle to Seoul .

The bands gigs act as a celebration of the past and the present, they are not afraid to play what fans deem as polarising. Yet they also understand these songs have become part of there fans lives, so the old stuff always gets a run out, and each tour will get a different setlist, and each part of the world will get a different setlist. 

One thing worth mentioning as well is the demand for Arctic Monkeys, the tours are always sell outs, when they appear on festival line ups, whether thats Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, Rock en Seine, Corona Capital, Rock Werchter the tickets will fly out. People want to see Arctic Monkeys. 

They always have a special love for the UK too, from 2007's Old Trafford gig, to 2011 at Don Valley Bowl and 2014's Finsbury Park gigs with Tame Impala, Miles Kane, Royal Blood they always seem to repay UK fans well. I suppose because they were there right from the start.

The Frontman

As with most bands, Arctic Monkeys are synonymous with there front man, The Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger, Joy Division with Ian Curtis, The Smiths with Morrisey and Oasis with Liam Gallagher. Well with Arctic Monkeys, it's Alex Turner. Who is the centre piece in more ways than one in what Arctic Monkeys do. He is the chief songwriter and front man and a core reason for the success of the band. 

Writing some of the greatest songs ever by a British musician at such a young age. Turner was 19 when he had his first Number One record, for some context Noel Gallagher was 27. His influences are a huge reason the band has performed the way they have, in his younger years he was massively into Hip Hop and as he got older he became more interested in British lyricists, Jarvis Cocker, Ray Davies and Paul Weller. Yet he was also into punk like The Clash and Sex Pistols. Along with The Strokes, The Hives, and White Stripes and all of this influence would seep into song writing.

More recently Turner has been inspired by film soundtracks and films themselves which were said to be the inspiration for 'Tranquility Base' especially 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), World on a Wire (1973), Le Cercle Rouge (1970), Spirits of the Dead (1968), Inherent Vice (2014) and The Last Waltz (1978).

Lyrically Alex Turner is one of Britain's best songwriters, even today his lyrics blow me away, and he was writing these great  lyrics right from the start. Observing what he saw, heard and then making his own comments on these images. He seemed to cover the mundane, and the relatable and make it both beautiful and interesting by using The Britishness of The Kinks, the melodic nous of The Beatles, the sneer of Sex Pistols, the wit of The Smiths, the groove of The Stone Roses, the anthems of Oasis, the clatter of The Libertines…

And that's just the first record. Turner adapted making the necessary changes that would take Arctic Monkeys from noughties indie upstarts to bona fide rock geniuses. Through his lyrics, his unique voice, and his stage persona. 

Starting off as a fast paced, youthful Yorkshire teen and turning into a lounge singer in later years. Adopting a new stage persona for each different iteration of the band. From shy teenagers, to rockabilly quiffs and leather jackets, to the different characters Tranquility Base had to offer, Turner could play any role for any album. It's a key reason as to why the band has worked, Turner is unafraid to change how he is and is not afraid of criticism.

The Band

Summarisng Arctic Monkeys by just there front man is unfair. there are four others who have played a clear role in the bands sound. Jamie Cook, Matt Helders, Nick O'Malley, and Andy Nicholson. These four have all had a part to play in how the band perform, write and record and it would be unfair to dismiss these members. 

Andy Nicholson, the bands original bass player who left after touring the bands debut album due to struggling with the touring aspect. Yet he still played bass on the bands debut album, and helped them become what they were today. A founding member of one of the most important British bands ever. His bass playing is a vital part of the sound of the debut album, and drives the songs forward. Compared to future releases this record is quite simple but that is what makes it great. We can thank Andy Nicholson for providing the back bone of this great record.

Nick O'Malley was Nicholson's replacement in 2006 and has been the bands bass player since, playing on every single record since 2006, and is a vital part of the bands sound gluing the whole thing together, pulling in the dynamism of drummer Matt Helders, the floating vocal melodies of Alex Turner, and the hooky riffs of guitarist Jamie Cook. Entirely dependable and brilliant at what he does. Exactly what the band need.

Jamie Cook, is a criminally underrated guitarist and some could say the bands secret weapon. Like O'Malley, Cook stays out of the limelight and keeps himself to himself although being part of one of the world's biggest bands. Cook is a music fanatic and like Turner, his musical knowledge and influences would become huge parts of the recording process his love of The Smiths, The Strokes, Oasis, and Queens of the Stone Age would be a defining influence on the band’s early sound. His love of Bowie, would play a huge part in AM's guitar sound along with the sound of 'Tranquility Base'. He understands his role, he doesn't need to be Jimmy Page, he needs to be Jamie Cook.

Matt Helders, the bands drummer is one of Britain's best drummers influenced by Hip Hop and Queens of the Stone Age. His drumming has become a huge part of the bands sound, especially on 'AM' his drum beats have become iconic. The Arctic Monkeys would not sound like they do without Helders drummer, imagine 'Brianstorm' without that drum fill, now imagine 'Crying Lightning' done that now imagine.., you get my point.

These four members have, and continue to make the Arctic Monkeys great. It's not a one man band no matter how much people try to make it a one man band.

The Influence & Legacy

Arctic Monkeys have been around for 20 years now and they have become an important musical outfit, that have crossed generations. Guitar music had waned since the end of the 1990s and Arctic Monkeys brought back the excitment to British guitar music, the same way The Strokes had done in America. 

Their depiction of youth culture, is unbelieveable. Where bands like The Smiths and Oasis did it once, Arctic Monkeys seemed to do it twice, Once with the 2006 debut which was the concept of a Sheffield night out and then again in 2013 where 'AM' 'became the soundtrack for countless nights out, hook-ups and comedowns in every town and city of this country'

They are loved by the young and old, they became the talk of the playground but your dad who loved Oasis, likes them, your uncle who is a massive Led Zeppelin fan likes them, your Mum likes them, your younger sibling likes them. Musicians are fans too.  David Bowie, said they were "a nice solid Brit band.Damon Albarn called them "the last great guitar band. I don't really know if there's anything as good as that since." Noel Gallagher is a fan, Bob Dylan claims he has made special efforts to see the band. 

Just as Turner and the lads were influenced by Oasis, The Libertines and Hip Hop. They are at an age now where they have become the influences for new bands and musicians. Including Tame Impala, Royal Blood, Fontaines DC, Wolf Alice, The 1975, Sam Fender, Inhaler, Bring me the Horizon. Some of these bands have been taken on the road by the band and some are just massive fans. But the Monkeys DNA can be heard in the vast majority of guitar music coming out today. 

Where do they rank in terms of the greats... 

They have a seat alongside, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Bowie etc. Especially due to there ability to look forward and innovate further.

The Future

The Arctic Monkeys have become one of the greatest bands ever. Due to what they have done previously, the possibilities for the future are endless. Where do they go next? They have toured around the world, become rock gods, written a concept album about a hotel on the moon. What do they do next? A Bond Theme? A film score? A rock album? Go back to Sheffield? Who knows. 

To all Arctic Monkeys fans past and present

Thank you ever so much for reading x