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?
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The original line-up of Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys in a pub, 2006. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images The original line-up - featuring original bassist Andy Nicholson on the far right. Those haircuts are brutal.
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Alex Turner onstage in Nottingham, April 2005
Arctic Monkeys performing in Nottingham, April 2005. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images 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.
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Arctic Monkeys play a hometown show in May 2005
Arctic Monkeys at Sheffield's Boardwalk, 26 May 2005. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images Jamie Cook, Andy Nicholson, Matt Helders and Alex Turner play Sheffield's Boardwalk on 26 May 2005.
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Early Arctic Monkeys setlist in Sheffield, May 2005
Early Arctic Monkeys setlist. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images Fans snap up an early Arctic Monkeys setlist during the show on 26 May 2005 at Sheffield's Boardwalk
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Backstage with Arctic Monkeys in Barnsley
Arctic Monkeys in Barnsley, July 2005. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images 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.
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Alex Turner meets his fans
Arctic Monkeys live in Northampton, August 2005. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images Alex Turner performing during an Arctic Monkeys show on 16 August 2005 at the Northampton Soundhaus.
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Jamie Cook in August 2005
Jamie Cook of Arctic Monkeys. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images Jamie Cook onstage at The Soundhaus, Northampton on 16 August 2005
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Reading Festival, 27 August 2005
Arctic Monkeys at Reading, 2005. Picture: Tabatha Fireman/Redferns/Getty Images “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?).
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Headlining the Astoria in October 2005
Arctic Monkeys at the Astoria, October 2005. Picture: Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images 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!
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Paradiso, Amsterdam, 1 November 2005
Arctic Monkeys live in 2005. Picture: Michel Linssen/Redferns/Getty Images 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.
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Arctic Monkeys live in Amsterdam, Februrary 2006
Arctic Monkeys live in 2006. Picture: Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images Another trip to the Netherlands, this time the Melkweg in Amsterdam on 27 February 2006.Llook at how tiny that stage is!
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Arctic Monkeys live in London, 2006
Arctic Monkeys live 2006. Picture: Gary Clark/FilmMagic/Getty Images 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.
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The Hoodie Years
Arctic Monkeys, 2006. Picture: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Turner plays a showcase at South By SouthWest in Austin, March 2006
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Maximum Matt Helders
Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys, 2006. Picture: Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images The Arctic Monkeys drummer leans in for a backing vocal at the Lowlands Festival in August 2006.
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Arctic Monkeys at the NME Awards, 2006
Arctic Monkeys at the NME Awards, February 2006. Picture: Jo Hale/Getty Images The band head to their first NME Awards event on 23 February 2006, They won Best British Band, Best New Band and Best Track.
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Arctic Monkeys win the 2006 Mercury Music Prize
Arctic Monkeys at the Mercurys, 5 September 2006. Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images 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...