Arctic Monkeys business is booming with record-setting debut album
Britain’s latest musical sensation comes from the windswept moorlands of southern Yorkshire.
The Arctic Monkeys hail from Sheffield, the former steel town that boasts a solid music pedigree with bands like Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Def Leppard and Pulp.
On Jan. 23, the band released its first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, on the indie Domino label (home of Franz Ferdinand), and sold over 110,000 copies in a single day. By the end of the first week, that number had surpassed 360,000 units and the band gained the honour of having the fastest selling debut album in British chart history, beating the previous record set by pop group Hear’say in 2001.
At the Brit Awards on Feb. 15, the Monkeys were named the British Breakthrough Act of the year and the following week they walked away with Best New Band and Best British Band at the NME Awards, beating out the favoured Kaiser Chiefs in the latter category.
Word on the web is…
Just how did these four Sheffield lads pull it off? As it turns out, it wasn’t the result of any savvy marketing strategy by a sly manager or a scheming record label. Rather, it was the power of the Internet that allowed thousands of young British fans to download free demos off the web over the past two years.
These songs started out as CD recordings that the band members burned themselves and handed out at gigs to their fans. Within a short period of time, the tunes were being passed around the web and helped create an incredible word-of-mouth buzz around the band.
When the Arctic Monkeys played shows in towns they had never been to before, they were amazed how many audience members knew the lyrics to their songs. It was only last May that they finally released Five Minutes With Arctic Monkeys, a two-song EP with a limited run of 1,500 copies.
But things changed last summer when the Monkeys signed with Domino Records after an intense bidding war. In October, the band’s first official single, I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, debuted at the top of the British charts. This feat was repeated in January with their second single, When the Sun Goes Down, which also went straight to the top of the charts.
The band’s edgy, often fast-paced sound and sharp, wry lyrics have set up comparisons with such British greats as The Jam, Blur and Pulp. Their songs focus on topics like small-town life (A Certain Romance), club bouncers (From the Ritz to the Rubble), prostitutes (When the Sun Goes Down), and the police (Riot Van).
As the band embarks on its 12-date, sold-out North American tour, the album has entered the U.S. charts at number 24 and has become the second-fastest-selling indie debut album in American chart history.
Ever since becoming the buzz band of last year, all four bandmates – singer Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook, bassist Andy Nicholson and drummer Max Helders – have been experiencing a whirlwind of media attention. But all this frenzy hasn’t seemed to faze these down-to-earth Yorkshire lads, who are all 19 and 20 years old.
"Yeah, life’s a bit crazy. But we don’t think about it too much. It has changed, but not in a bad way," says Helders over a speakerphone from backstage at the famed Melkweg club in Amsterdam. "It did happen that we got chased down the street once."
But back home in the Sheffield suburb of High Green, the four are just treated as local lads. "Where we live, people respect our privacy. When we’re coming up for a big thing – like a single release and a tour – we got the newspaper people around our house. But it’s not all that bad."
Currently the four still live at home and enjoy the comforts of family life. "Our parents love it. They always come to gigs when they can. They’ve been very supportive."
The name that comes back to bite
Numerous articles on the Monkeys state that they named themselves after a band Helders’ uncle (or dad) had in the 1970s. However, Helders admits it was just a joke. "It’s come back to bite me," laughs Helders. "I still told it to someone the other day. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I’d been lying, because he had interviewed us twice before. I didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth."
The idea of forming a band started after Turner and Cook received guitars for Christmas presents in 2001. The following summer the four assembled in Turner’s garage and started fooling around on their instruments. How Helders ended up on the drums was simple. "That’s all that were left," he quips. "When we started the band none of us played anything. We just put it together. They all had guitars and I bought a drum kit after a bit."
Helders says he didn’t find learning the drums difficult. "To be honest it just came natural to me. I never had any lessons. I had some drumsticks and a book and I taught myself from it. I’m still surprised by it all."
Along with fame came a slew of crazy rumours about the Monkeys not writing their own lyrics – supposedly too sophisticated for lads of their age. "It’s rubbish. I just think journalists are looking for something else to write about because we’re not interesting enough. I dunno what they’ll write next."
In January, New Musical Express, the influential British music weekly, declared the band’s album the fifth best British album of all time. "It’s pretty strange," says Helders. "I don’t know how they did it. The album came out on a Monday and the magazine came out the next day on Tuesday. They’d already done all their research. It must have been printed before the disc came out. I mean, it’s flattering, but ridiculous."
As far as his own musical interests and influences go, Helders says he listened to a lot of hip-hop, especially Dr. Dre and Brit-rock gods Oasis. "In fact, we’re playing with Oasis in Toronto at some kind of arena that holds about 15,000 people."
Asked whether Oasis was opening for the Arctic Monkeys, Helders snickers. "Nah, nah, not yet – we’re supporting them."
As the conversation winds down, Helders wonders whether there is any snow in Montreal. When he’s told there was and recent temperatures had been minus 15 degrees, his curiosity turns to astonishment. "Wow! Bloody hell – I’ll bring my coat then."
Arctic Monkeys
With The Spinto Band at the Spectrum, March 22, 8 p.m.
17 comments
Nice to hear my son sounding like himself in an interview. So many times you can tell they’ve got the names mixed up and I hear Andy/Alex or Jamie’s words perporting to be from Matt.
You can really tell it’s him though and it’s a pleasant change to read an article that rings true.
Thanks.
Whether or not this band will live up to its hype when they hit the Spectrum next week is still to be seen but I must admit that the album is very entertaining. Good Ol’ danceable rock n’ roll for all to love.
The article shows us that word of mouth is still the greatest method of promoting yourself. Big media budgets are fine and sly product placements too but let the people listen to what you have to offer and you’ll reap the benefits of the labour.
This is rock n’ roll is about. Proving your yourself to the world through hard work not like all those instant-fame television shows like American Idol that see you rise to stardom – and most likely burn – quickly. Congratulations to the Artic Monkeys and your longevity will prove your detractors wrong.
Well, after reading that article I certainly have a good feel for the group. Especially having seen that the interviewer was even provided props by one of the band members moms! Now that = authenticity. Much props to you Mr. Martin Siberok.
N-E-hoo, thanks to HMV and their sampling stations, I have an idea of the sound that Artic Monkeys has going for them. Whether or not I’m into it, remains to be seen – but I’ve sampled, & that’s cool, right?
I am quite impressed with the bands’ courageousness and obvious talent stories though. I mean, going out & just buying a drumset, cuz it was the only instrument missing, then learning to play it…How cool is that!?!? Drummers are sexy too, I should add. Well, at least I think so. I mean, just observing them sometimes feels like an artform. Those fluid beating yet rhythmic motions, there is something Super-sultry about it. I actually used to play. But then I just gave up instruments and continued to dabble in vocals. N-E-ways, all this to say, whoever the Artic Monkey is who got last pick on the props, instantly became the sexiest member of the band…as far as I’m concerned. So um, who did you say the Artic Monkey’s drummer-boy was again?
Just kidding, I = no groupie. :p
Peace.
THese guys are the bomb! For me they are like the new Beatles of this new age! and their songs are just as good as the beatles too! I do hope that they become legends :-) Try and listen to their songs, and taste their original and unique beat and rhythm of rock. And their style and lyrics would seriously reminds me of The Beatles.
But here’s the bad news…
The tickets for their concert been sold out since last week. . . and i will hope that those damm scalpers still have some, and sell the with a good deal.
Remeber, The Artic Monkey’s are great!!! You will thank me later.
I saw the Arctic Monkeys last week on Saturday Night Live. When their name was announced my reaction was, “who?” They have resurrected the grittiest form of electric guitar based rock as the cornerstone of their sound. As I watched them I found a feeling of déjâ-vu growing.
It wasn’t until the end of their second performance of the night that I realized why they seemed so familiar. Instead of the usual nod and a “thanks” to the audience, the guitarists and bass player roughly dropped their instruments and walked off stage to the sound of screeching feed-back.
Who would have expected that a bunch of 19 year olds would be so strongly influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townshend?
This much hype can be almost stifling! I mean I’m yet to hear more than a snippet of a tune and this band has sold out the Spectrum!!! I can’t help but wonder if the band warrants this much attention. They’re young and, no doubt, talented but I can’t help but think that they lack the experience to be all that the British press purports them to be. Only time will tell but trust me, I won’be haggling with scalpers for tickets this time around!
Its nice to see such a young, honest “rock band” get this much press but what more can I say, I smell one hit wonders. The article states that these lads haven’t been playing their instruments very long, and it shows. The music is very simple and will only look good on the dance floor. I don’t see these guys having another hit record.
I actually heard Arctic Monkeys’ stuff through a friend a few days ago, so I’m just new to their music. I think their album “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” is really good. Although it is definitely not NEW in terms of musical style, they sound a lot like many indie bands coming out now…they definitely have something that is letting their music make it big. Whether it be catchy songs, their awesome lyrics, or pure luck they definitely made a good album and they did it well.
Sure, these guys are Britian’s darlings-of-the-moment, but are they all that! Well, from what I’ve seen of them, there might be a considerable amount of hot air to this famed quartet. They are talented blokes, who or the most part are pretty much re-hashing or what’s being done by the Furtureheads and/or Kaiser Chiefs, the difference is though, these guys have sold a crap load of albums.
The title of the fastest selling album also goes to AM since it dethroned Oasis and are constantly being compared to the over-rated brothers, of who which they are touring with. The music is pop-punk with little in the way of originality and creativeness. They are doing what has been done before, albeit, not as good though.
From what I’ve read and heard about these chaps, they seem to be carrying quite the chip on their shoulders as well but that should fit in just right with the Oasis comparisons. In true UK fashion, the hype has superceded their actual artistic worth. I bet they’re laughing all the way to the bank .
After reading this article in the hour, and hearing a bit about the band, I decided to take a listen to these Arctic Monkeys…
For a girl who adores Wolf Parade, the Arctic Monkeys were not disappointing in the least. I find them to be refreshingly different in a non-”we’re-trying-to-be-different” way. Their influences show in their music, and they do them honour and justice.
Their lyrics are very clever but up-to-date. I think that the line about how music only exists in a certain place so that there can be new ring tones rings especially true.
There’s a lot of truth in the simple but clever themes of these monkeys.
As far as the music goes, the pop influence to it gives it an upbeat and energetic feel that I really appreciate.
In terms of the popularity of the group, I find it strange that the internet can be so good for bands if it’s also, according to some, “stealing money from the artists through the downloading of music”. Would the Arctic Monkeys and bands like them have as wide of a fanbase if people couldn’t have a listen before purchasing the album? Somehow I doubt it.
All in all, the Arctic Monkeys are worth listening to, if only to make up your mind for yourself about whether they live up to the hype. As for me, the Arctic Monkeys can be found in my CD player.
Whatever your opinion on the Arctic Monkeys, these boys have rocked the world with their poppin’ new CD. Even if their fame may last less than 15 minutes, their songs have energy, fans are calling their lyrics “hip and catchy” and, critics who saw them at open for Oasis recently, as fresh and full of attitude. Their claim to fame will always be the speed at which their CD sold in the UK, and they may as well run with new found success as far as they can before they become obsolete.
It’s important when you’re listening to these guys you concentrate on their music individually as opposed to comparing their music to the popular tunes of today. They have a different feel to their music that makes the band as a whole a little bit special. Whether or not they can turn that into something a whole lot bigger than this still remains to be seen however one things for certain and that is that this article has given a small insite into what the bands about, this is something that can be appreciated by their audience as you dont normally see much on them.
I really like this band they’ve got a fast and punky kind of sound, catchy lyrics that are fun to sing along to and their music is very danceable. It’s amazing to think of what they’ve accomplished so far, highest selling debut album ever in British history, that is no small feat. Though I think the hype is really high and I can’t imagine how much pressure there’s going to be when their going to record their second album, people will of course be expecting them to produce something even better, sell even more record, sell out even bigger concert venues and will these young guys be able to pull it off? So far they’ve been riding the wave. I was at their concert on the 22nd of march, they were good, have a good sense of humour, for the drummer adorned a sombrero hat and bassist a white wool scarf that had been thrown on stage!
wow. the first time i heard these guys i saw their video on mtv and i asked myself how i didnt know who these guys were. they totally blew me away with their awesome sounds. i have started to listn to their songs and i really enjoy them. even my friends like them and they are really picky when it comes to music, so if you havent heard of them check them out. they are awesome!!!
The Arctic MOnkeys Are Absolute Genious!And They Are The Best Band By Far And Would Do Absolute Any-Thing Just To Meet Them!!!!!!
Don`t get me wrong, i’m a HUGE fan, but people saying they’re better than the strokes, or oasis, that’s not true. They can reach the level, but it will take time, and require some musical expirimentation. Good job though, love the band, so much talent at this age, the lyrics are just amazing. You’re on the right track anyway, I’m hooked to your music!
Wow, hahaha you guys are definitely eating your words now! “One hit wonders” my foot!