Arctic Monkeys are one of the most iconic indie bands of all time. They formed in Sheffield, England in 2002. They’re one of the first bands to use the internet to create a buzz. In a lot of ways, they broke the mold of how to market and promote a band. By the time their first album (Whatever People Say, That’s What I’m Not) was released in 2006, they were already hugely popular. It became the fastest-selling debut album in UK history and is considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time. It won Best British Album at the 2007 Brit Awards
Right now, the band features Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jamie Cook (guitar, keyboards), Nick O’Malley (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Matt Helders (drums, backing vocals). Andy Nicholson left the band in 2006 shortly after their debut album was released. He was replaced by O’Malley in time for their second album, Favorite Worst Nightmare (2007). The accolades kept coming with this release, as they won Best British Album for the second year in a row.
They released Humbug in 2009 and Suck It and See in 2011. But they broke out internationally with their fifth album, AM (2013). The biggest hit, “Do I Wanna Know?” was certified platinum in the United States and topped four Billboard charts. The album also won them their third Best British Album at the 2014.
After taking a five-year break, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino came out in 2018, followed by The Car in 2022. Both were once again commercial and critical successes. It’s unreal the accolades and accomplishments Arctic Monkeys have racked up over the years. Everything they touch turns to gold. Or Platinum. It’s honestly too much to even get into, but every release has been nominated for multiple awards worldwide, and every album has won awards.
They’re considered one of the greatest bands of all time, especially in the UK. What separates them from the pack is while other bands have fallen off and put out subpar work, Arctic Monkeys have remained consistent and put out some of their best work in recent years. If you’ve never listened to them before, you might want to change that. They are true legends of the music industry.
They’ve influenced artists like Black Midi, Blossoms, Fontaines D.C., Wallows, The 1975, Halsey, Yungblud, Lewis Capaldi, Louis Tomlinson, Mahalia, Arlo Parks, Sam Fender, Billie Eilish, Bring Me the Horizon, Måneskin, Hozier, Slowthai, JID, and Earthgang.
If you’re an Arctic Monkeys fan, you’re in luck. They’ll be live at Pacific Coliseum on September 23 in Vancouver! Don’t miss out on one of the most influential bands of all time!