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Arctic Monkeys

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Group. Formed 2002.

Photo of Arctic Monkeys Arctic Monkeys

Biography

Arctic Monkeys are an English alternative rock band from High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. Formed in 2002, the band currently consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar), Jamie Cook (guitar), Nick O'Malley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Matt Helders (drums, backing vocals).

Arctic Monkeys achieved chart success with their second single, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, released in January 2006, became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history, surpassing Oasis's Definitely Maybe and remaining the fastest-selling debut album for a band. It received critical acclaim, winning both the 2006 Mercury Prize and the 2007 BRIT Award for Best British Album. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, but lost to Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere. The band's second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, was released on 23 April 2007, sold over 225,000 copies in its first week, and was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize. The group also picked up the award for Best British Album and Best British Group at the 2008 BRIT Awards.

Arctic Monkeys were heralded as one of the first acts to come to the public attention via the Internet (fan-based sites rather than from the band), with commentators suggesting they represented the possibility of a change in the way in which new bands are promoted and marketed. The band eventually signed to the independent record label Domino Records.

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Links & Information

Links

Latest News Stories Really Simple Syndication

News from the BBC

  1. Arena tour

    Mon 7 Sep 2009 11:54

    Arctic Monkeys line up 10-date UK tour for November
  2. Dame Vera shoots up UK chart

    Mon 7 Sep 2009 09:29

    Dame Vera Lynn reaches number two in the UK album chart - but is kept off the top spot...
  3. Old and new

    Sun 30 Aug 2009 05:04

    Reading welcomes back the Arctic Monkeys

Latest Blog Posts Really Simple Syndication

Blogs from the BBC

  1. BBC Introducing showcases at In The City 2009

    Thu 15 Oct 2009 15:52 This weekend, the music industry makes its annual pilgrimage to Manchester for In The... Richard Banks
  2. Best Albums of August 2009

    Mon 21 Sep 2009 12:55 While the summertime rash of festivals has previously denied August a fair raft of... Mike Diver
  3. Mercury Prize: Who will win in 2010?

    Wed 9 Sep 2009 10:00 Since its inception in 1992, the Mercury Prize has served as a valuable alternative to... Mike Diver

BBC Reviews Really Simple Syndication

  1. Humbug 2009

    Humbug

    Reviewed by Mike Diver

    Incorporating elements of rock‘n’roll's past it's still a very modern affair.
  2. Favourite Worst Nightmare 2007

    Favourite Worst Nightmare

    Reviewed by Tom Young

    Rather scarily, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' has surpassed previous heights scaled by...
  3. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not 2006

    Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

    Reviewed by Mike Diver

    The Sheffield four-piece's hugely influential debut reappraised.

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