Arctic Monkeys: Free from PR spinPoliticians are falling over themselves to name check the Arctic Monkeys. But what has made the band their yardstick for all that is current and cool?
Arctic Monkeys: Free from PR spinPoliticians are falling over themselves to name check the Arctic Monkeys. But what has made the band their yardstick for all that is current and cool?
Chancellor Gordon Brown reportedly loved waking up to them but now he loves the Arctic Circle more.
Chancellor Gordon Brown reportedly loved waking up to them but now he loves the Arctic Circle more.
When Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said he thought they'd sold more records than the Beatles he was mocked by the media. While Tory leader David Cameron's comments on the band's album being "ok" were seen by some as a bid to appear down with the kids.
When Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said he thought they'd sold more records than the Beatles he was mocked by the media. While Tory leader David Cameron's comments on the band's album being "ok" were seen by some as a bid to appear down with the kids.
Any politician making a grab for the public's affections, it seems, feels compelled to name check the pop act du jour: the Arctic Monkeys.
Any politician making a grab for the public's affections, it seems, feels compelled to name check the pop act du jour: the Arctic Monkeys.
Monkey mania in the upper echelons of politics took off in the summer when Mr Brown told New Woman magazine the band "really wakes you up in the morning".
Monkey mania in the upper echelons of politics took off in the summer when Mr Brown told New Woman magazine the band "really wakes you up in the morning".
When asked later by GQ magazine to name a track, he couldn't but went on to say he'd heard the band and "they're very loud".
When asked later by GQ magazine to name a track, he couldn't but went on to say he'd heard the band and "they're very loud".
In a speech to stake his claim as next Labour leader on Monday, he neatly turned the issue around, confessing "I'm more interested in the future of the Arctic Circle than the future of the Arctic Monkeys."
In a speech to stake his claim as next Labour leader on Monday, he neatly turned the issue around, confessing "I'm more interested in the future of the Arctic Circle than the future of the Arctic Monkeys."
It's like arriving late to the party and trying to convince people you should be there Matthew HirstYouth trend expert So when did the Arctic Monkeys become the politicians' yardstick for what is cool and what's not?
It's like arriving late to the party and trying to convince people you should be there Matthew HirstYouth trend expert So when did the Arctic Monkeys become the politicians' yardstick for what is cool and what's not?
The Sheffield band are best known for their prose about curb crawlers and eyeing up girls, all sung in a regional vernacular. They became an overnight phenomenon after building up a huge fan base, before even getting a record contract, through networking website MySpace.
The Sheffield band are best known for their prose about kerb-crawlers and eyeing up girls, all sung in a regional vernacular. They became an overnight phenomenon after building up a huge fan base, before even getting a record contract, through networking website MySpace.
They have been seized upon by politicians because they are the first band in a long time to genuinely come through the ranks untainted by PR spin, says consultancy HeadlightVision.
They have been seized upon by politicians because they are the first band in a long time to genuinely come through the ranks untainted by PR spin, says consultancy HeadlightVision.
"They are an organic, young, trendy band who are real, with fans around the world," says youth trend expert, Matthew Hirst.
"They are an organic, young, trendy band who are real, with fans around the world," says youth trend expert, Matthew Hirst.
'Poster boys'
'Poster boys'
"They climbed the ranks using new media that young people are into but a lot of older people don't understand. They are the poster boys for all that."
"They climbed the ranks using new media that young people are into but a lot of older people don't understand. They are the poster boys for all that."
The way the band became a success is a major reason why politicians want to associate themselves with them, in one way or another, says Jody Thompson, former news editor at NME and music journalist with BBC 6 Music.
The way the band became a success is a major reason why politicians want to associate themselves with them, in one way or another, says Jody Thompson, former news editor at NME and music journalist with BBC 6 Music.
"They achieved their success without recognition from the major records companies and when they did sign a record contract it was with an independent label - they haven't sold out," she says.
"They achieved their success without recognition from the major records companies and when they did sign a record contract it was with an independent label - they haven't sold out," she says.
Keeping it real in cagoulesBut politicians are too late for any of the band's coolness to rub off on them, say trend experts.
Keeping it real in cagoulesBut politicians are too late for any of the band's coolness to rub off on them, say trend experts.
"Politicians are name checking them because they want to be seen as real - but it's too late," says Mr Hirst. "It's like arriving late to the party and trying to convince people you should be there.
"Politicians are name checking them because they want to be seen as real - but it's too late," says Mr Hirst. "It's like arriving late to the party and trying to convince people you should be there.
"The band are not on their way up any more, they have got there and are playing massive festivals, and the whole MySpace thing is almost over because so many bands are now trying to replicate what they did."
"The band are not on their way up any more, they have got there and are playing massive festivals, and the whole MySpace thing is almost over because so many bands are now trying to replicate what they did."
But will the continual name checking by middle-aged, male politicians put an end to the band's street cred?
But will the continual name checking by middle-aged, male politicians put an end to the band's street cred?
"They won't care," says Thompson. "They've achieved their success,"
"They won't care," says Thompson. "They've achieved their success."
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