These Arctic Monkeys photos make us nostalgic for the 2000s

22 January 2021, 06:00

Let’s look back at Alex Turner, Matt Helders and the rest of the Monkeys from their earliest years. Don’t you wish it was still 2005?

1. The original line-up of Arctic Monkeys

   

   The original line-up - featuring original bassist Andy Nicholson on the far right. Those haircuts are brutal.

2. Alex Turner onstage in Nottingham, April 2005

   

   Turner and co play a show at The Bodega, Nottingham on 25 April 2005. These early shows - and the band's use of MySpace to release their music - gave Arctic Monkeys a huge buzz in the music industry at the time.

3. Arctic Monkeys play a hometown show in May 2005

   

   Jamie Cook, Andy Nicholson, Matt Helders and Alex Turner play Sheffield's Boardwalk on 26 May 2005.

4. Early Arctic Monkeys setlist in Sheffield, May 2005

   

   Fans snap up an early Arctic Monkeys setlist during the show on 26 May 2005 at Sheffield's Boardwalk

5. Backstage with Arctic Monkeys in Barnsley

   

   Backstage at the Birdwell Venue in Barnsley, 26 July 2005 - three months before the release of their debut single, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

6. Alex Turner meets his fans

   

   Alex Turner performing during an Arctic Monkeys show on 16 August 2005 at the Northampton Soundhaus.

7. Jamie Cook in August 2005

   

   Jamie Cook onstage at The Soundhaus, Northampton on 16 August 2005

8. Reading Festival, 27 August 2005

   

   “Don’t believe the hype, Reading,” said Alex Turner as he opened the band’s first appearance at the festival - this was at the tiny Carling tent, sandwiched between Mystery Jets and Dogs (remember them?).

9. Headlining the Astoria in October 2005

   

   The week before the release of I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, the Yorkshire lads played the much-missed Astoria on London's Charing Cross Road. The venue has now been demolished to make way for the Crossrail project. Boo!

10. Paradiso, Amsterdam, 1 November 2005

    

    A mere couple of weeks after the release of I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, the band ventured to Amsterdam as part of their first world tour. Their debut single was the second song they played, after opening with The View From The Afternoon.

11. Arctic Monkeys live in Amsterdam, Februrary 2006

    

    Another trip to the Netherlands, this time the Melkweg in Amsterdam on 27 February 2006.Llook at how tiny that stage is!

12. Arctic Monkeys live in London, 2006

    

    Alex headlines the Forum in London, 24 August 2006. That weekend, the band would be second on the bill on the main stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.

13. The Hoodie Years

    

    Turner plays a showcase at South By SouthWest in Austin, March 2006

14. Maximum Matt Helders

    

    The Arctic Monkeys drummer leans in for a backing vocal at the Lowlands Festival in August 2006.

15. Arctic Monkeys at the NME Awards, 2006

    

    The band head to their first NME Awards event on 23 February 2006, They won Best British Band, Best New Band and Best Track.

16. Arctic Monkeys win the 2006 Mercury Music Prize

    

    The band walked off with the Best British Album Of The Year, beating Muse and Thom Yorke at the ceremony in London. Original bassist had announced his departure in May and would shortly be permanently replaced by Nick O'Malley. It was the start of a new era for Arctic Monkeys...