They have become arguably Sheffield's greatest musical export since exploding onto the scene in 2005 with their first single I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was released the following year to great acclaim, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in British chart history.
More than two decades since forming, they remain one of the world's most exciting bands, having built on their early success with albums like 2013's AM before showcasing a new sound on Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino and 2022 follow-up The Car.
Their evolution may not be to everyone's taste but Alex Turner, Matt Helders and co put on an amazing show at Hillsborough Park in 2023, and the band have amassed an impressive seven Brit Awards and nine Grammy nominations.
Here we look back in pictures at some of the key sites across Sheffield which have played a part in the Arctic Monkeys' phemonenal success story, from the school where the band met to the pub where they played their first gig and the studio where the legendary demo which catapulted them to fame was recorded.
They have become arguably Sheffield's greatest musical export since exploding onto the scene in 2005 with their first single I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.
5. Stocksbridge High School
They may have grown up in High Green but it was at Stocksbridge High School that the Arctic Monkeys met and formed the band. Recalling what Alex Turner was like as a pupil, his old English and drama teacher, Steve Baker, once described him as 'someone unconventional, a little bit different, with a brightness and a cleverness that would serve him well'. Photo: National World
The original Arctic Monkeys line-up - Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook, drummer Matt Helders and original bass player Andy Nicholson, later replaced by Nick O’Malley – were dropped off by their mums after school for their first proper rehearsal sessions at Yellow Arch Studios in Neepsend. Yellow Arch director Andy Cook, pictured in the room where the band rehearsed, previously told The Star that the debut album was a result of practising there ‘for years and years’. "Alex and the lads kind of had a proper working-class miners' mentality of 'We're here, and we're 'avin it', " he added. "And they worked, and worked, and worked - some bands were booked in for three hours and you'd say 'Have they done anything?'." Photo: Andrew Roe Photography
2fly studios in Sheffield is where the Arctic Monkeys recorded their demo tracks which set them on the road to stardom. The studios were launched by Alan Smyth and originally based in what he has described as a small concrete 'shack' in Stag Works. They recorded 17 tracks in total over the course of five-and-a-half days which would make up their Under the Boardwalk demo. A couple of moments on their debut album were reportedly lifted directly from those recordings and some people have said they prefer the demos to the finished first album. Alan, pictured here on the left, told how the band were obviously cut out for success. But he pulled up Alex for singing in an American accent on one of their songs, adding: "He didn't say anything at the time but when we started recording again he went straight to his Yorkshire roots." Alex Turner and Matt Helders had first recorded at 2fly studios with the band Judan Suki, which was fronted by Jon McClure, of Reverend and the Makers fame, and Ed Cosens. Photo: Other
When the future of this iconic pub on Broad Lane was in doubt, following the retirement of its long-serving landlords, Matt Helders was part of a consortium dubbed the 'Fellowship of Fagans' which came to the rescue. He told The Star he felt it was an 'important place to keep alive'. He added: "It's a pub I go to quite a bit whenever we are in town. Obviously, I didn’t grow up on that side of town. But when I started drinking, it was one of the places we’d always go to, plus it’s the one that Richard Hawley loves." Photo: National World
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