Arctic Monkeys

By blending the sharp hooks of Franz Ferdinand, the punk snap of the Clash and the cool swagger of the Strokes and the Libertines, Arctic Monkeys emerged as one of the U.K.’s defining bands of the new millennium. The Sheffield group’s rise began online in the mid-2000s, when fan-shared demos fueled buzz that led to sold-out shows and intense label interest. Their 2006 debut, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” became the fastest-selling debut album in British history, instantly placing Arctic Monkeys in the lineage of era-defining British acts.

Frontman Alex Turner and guitarist Jamie Cook formed the band in 2002 after receiving guitars for Christmas, later joined by drummer Matt Helders and bassist Andy Nicholson. Early gigs around Sheffield and a string of homemade recordings built a devoted audience without traditional industry backing. Arctic Monkeys signed with Domino Records in 2005, embracing the label’s independent ethos. Their first two singles, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “When the Sun Goes Down,” both topped the U.K. charts, signaling a rare blend of grassroots credibility and mass appeal.

Nicholson departed in 2006 and was replaced permanently by Nick O’Malley. The band followed its debut with “Favourite Worst Nightmare” in 2007, a louder, faster record that kept them atop the charts and earned major Brit Awards recognition. Subsequent releases showed a steady evolution: the desert-tinged psychedelia of “Humbug,” the melodic warmth of “Suck It and See,” and the sleek, R&B-influenced minimalism of “AM,” which delivered global hits and expanded the band’s reach in the U.S.

Arctic Monkeys continued to refine their sound with the cinematic, lounge-leaning “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” and 2022’s “The Car,” an orchestral, introspective album that underscored Turner’s growth as a songwriter. Still a formidable live draw, the band has headlined major festivals, including Glastonbury, and remains one of the most influential British groups of the 21st century, known for reinventing itself without losing its edge.