The Arctic Monkeys:
The Band That Rose From Free CDs to Rock Royalty

Forget streaming and music videos. The Arctic Monkeys first became famous by literally burning demos onto CDs and handing them out. We trace the unbelievable evolution of Alex Turner and company, and explore why their fans love every one of their musical transformations.

The Legendary Free Demos: Beneath the Boardwalk (2004)

While the first Arctic Monkeys album, titled Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, wasn't released until 2006, the band first started distributing their music in 2004. Arctic Monkeys explores many genres, beginning with themes of indie and alternative rock and transitioning into more psychedelic pop and lounge music in later albums -- yet despite such contrast, their fans still have a surprising lack of division between who favors newer or later albums.

In 2004, the band would just “record demos and then just burn them onto CDs and give them away at gigs,” according to their drummer, Matt Helders. Their first demo collection, titled Beneath the Boardwalk, was in reference to a boardwalk in Sheffield where many were given away.

The original members consisted of Alex Turner, Matt Helders, Andy Nicholson, and Jamie Cook. The band had actually loved the rediscovery of Beneath the Boardwalk across the internet, as they “were giving them away free anyway” and “that was a better way for people to hear them.”

The demos had eighteen tracks, many of which went on to be officially released on their first album. The demos that were later rerecorded on Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not included “A Certain Romance”, “Dancing Shoes”, “Fake Tales of San Francisco“, “Mardy Bum“, “Riot Van“, “Still Take You Home“, “Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor“, and “Cigarette Smoke“ which was turned into “Cigarette Smoker Fiona“. “Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts“ was also released, although not included in Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Despite not being rerecorded, many listeners still find their other demos enjoyable anyway, their “Space Invaders“ being a more niche fan-favorite.

The Garage Rock Era: Debut Success and Lineup Change (2006–2007)

Before the debut of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006, the band released their first album singles "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and "When the Sun Goes Down", which quickly became their first UK number-ones. This set them up for having their first album be the fastest-selling debut album in British music history. It includes 13 tracks, five of which were not featured in their demo album. The new tracks included “The View From the Afternoon“, “You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights, but You Were Staring Straight at Me“, “Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured“, “Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But…“, and “From the Ritz to the Rubble“. The album was best described as a high-energy mix about the nightlife and culture of English clubbers, with garage rock and post-punk revival, and received several awards.

Unfortunately, after their first album’s successful launch, bassist Andy Nicholson realized he didn't enjoy the life of touring in the same way as the rest of the band and permanently left to pursue his own project. The band then took on Nick O’Malley as a replacement.

Their next album, Favorite Worst Nightmare, was released in 2007 and considered more ambitious. While the song “Brianstorm“ is also amongst the twelve tracks on the album, it preceded the album’s release as a lead single. However, the album’s “505” took off, becoming one of the most well-known of the band’s songs to this day. The name Favorite Worst Nightmare is referenced in “D is for Dangerous” several times, within the lines: “You should know/ You're his favourite worst nightmare.”

The Psychedelic Pivot: Humbug and Suck It and See (2009–2011)

Their third album, Humbug, was released in 2009. Departing slightly from the punk and garage rock of their prior albums, Humbug is considered less aggressive and has more elements of psychedelic and indie rock, with Turner’s vocals coming off slower and hushed. The album includes ten tracks, as well as an iTunes bonus track, “I Haven't Got My Strange,” and the Japanese bonus track “Red Right Hand”. “Cornerstone” seems to be the most notable song from the album, likely due to the publicity it received from the band’s rather quirky music video that many fans still use for inside jokes to this day.

Their fourth album, Suck It and See, was released in 2011. While Turner acknowledges that it didn't “really travel very well”, the title was a British saying, “like 'give it a try' almost”. It explores more themes of post-punk and psychedelic pop, having a lighter guitar pop than Humbug. The album includes twelve tracks, as well as a Japanese bonus track, “The Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap”. Despite Turner’s claim of the simplicity of the album, he continued to be a lyrical genius, one example being his use of something like the wild thunderstorms of New York in “She’s Thunderstorms” as an illustration of the intensity of his girlfriend of the time, Alexa Chung.

Mainstream Mastery: The R&B Influence of AM (2013)

Still one of their most mainstream albums, the Arctic Monkeys' album AM was released in 2013. With more R&B themes than the prior albums, this one has twelve tracks, as well as “2013” and “Stop the World I Wanna Get Off With You” on the deluxe LP edition. Along with Favorite Worst Nightmare’s “505”, AM contains the other two of their top three most-streamed songs, “I Wanna Be Yours” and “Do I Wanna Know?”. Despite its popularity, “I Wanna Be Yours” isn’t an original, but Turner’s adaptation of a poem to be brought to a wider audience.

The Lounge Era: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino and The Car (2018–2022)

2018’s new album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, takes a large turn with its elements of jazz and lounge music, far less similar to their heavy guitar-driven work. The title is a reference to the Tranquility Base of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the perspective of many of the songs is intended to be from an unreliable narrator. The album includes eleven tracks, their first album to contain a song with the same name as the album, which was also released as a single along with the B-side “Anyways”.

Their seventh and final album as of present is The Car, which was released in 2022. With more baroque rock, this album explores more ideas of nostalgia and the music industry. The album includes ten tracks, the most fan-favored being “Body Paint”. Just like Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, Turner again makes the artistic choice to include a song named after the album.

What's Next?

While no tours are currently available for the Arctic Monkeys, many fans speculate their return due to the promotion for The Car being removed from their website, rumors of them having studio sessions, as well as their newly registered Bang Bangs Recordings LLP.

With the band potentially back in the studio, there's no better time to dive into their eclectic catalog and discover why the Arctic Monkeys are still one of rock's most dynamic acts.