Alex Turner's greatest quotes

6 January 2025, 10:00

The wit and Yorkshire wisdom of the Arctic Monkeys frontman. He has a quote for every occasion.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. "I think we're still listening to the same voice inside, that instinct, that we were in 2005."

   Alex Turner to Radio X's John Kennedy on the latest album The Car, October 2022.

   

2. "That rock'n'roll, it seems like it's faded away sometimes, but it will never die. And there's nothing you can do about it."

   Turner's show-stopping speech at the BRIT Awards 2014.

   

3. "The arrival of The Strokes changed what music I was listening to, what shoes I was wearing. I grew my hair out and borrowed my mum’s blazer."

   Talking about Star Treatment to John Kennedy on Radio X, 2018

   

4. "I think if you start taking it too seriously, which I’m, like, sometimes definitely in danger of doing… then it gets ugly."

   The pitfalls of being a frontman, Esquire magazine.

   

   

5. "It’d be nice if one of us was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. That would mean something mad had happened, some serious sh*t would have gone down between now and then."

   Another dream yet to be fulfilled, courtesy of Shortlist.

   

6. "You know how Shakira's hips don't lie? Well mine are incredibly good liars. A mask if you like.”

   Talking to TN LA Viola about how he overcame shyness.

   

7. “I just can’t bring myself to write about the mountains yet. I’m still banging on about the same shit I was in the beginning, I suppose, but perhaps I’m directing it differently now.”

   On those early lyrical concerns, to Pitchfork

   

8. "Doesn’t matter where I’m living. I’ve got a pen and a notebook I bought in a market in Manchester. That’s all I need.”

   Talking about songwriting to The National newspaper.

   

9. “That was a real news story that I read, with a video attached to it that I watched. It’s just remarkable really, that it's possible. It just seemed like that’s where we’re at now, isn’t it? Those are the types of things that are happening."

   On The World's First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip, talking to John Kennedy on Radio X, 2018

   

   First ever Monster Truck front flip - Monster Jam World Finals 18 XVIII (2017) in Las Vegas

10. "Who else was going to be Best British Band at NME? You don't write about something that much and then not tell them they're Best British Band."

    Telling the NME what's what at their awards night in 2006.

    

11. "Don't believe the hype."

    Kicking back at the media in the I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor video.

    

    Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (Official Video)