Arctic Monkeys

English indie rock band. Their punk-inspired first single ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ became a number one hit single in the UK when it was released in 2005 and was followed by the successful albums Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) and Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007).

The band has been compared to The Jam and the Smiths and has earned popularity in both the alternative and pop music genres. Gaining much of their early exposure through file-sharing and social-networking on the Internet, the band signed with the independent record label Domino Records in 2005. Other singles include ‘What the Son Goes Down’ and ‘Leave Before the Lights Come On’ (both 2006), and ‘Brianstorm’, ‘Florescent Adolescent’, and ‘Teddy Picker’ (all 2007).

The band formed in 2002 in Sheffield and comprised songwriter, lead vocalist and lead guitarist Alex Turner (1986– ), guitarist Jamie Cook (1985– ), bass guitarist Andy Nicholson, and drummer Matt Helders (1986– ). Nick O'Malley (1985– ) replaced Nicholson as bass guitarist in 2006. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, which became the UK's fastest-selling debut album, won the 2006 Mercury Prize and both this album and Favourite Worst Nightmare won Brit Awards for best British album. The Arctic Monkeys were also named Best British Group at the 2008 Brit Awards.