Arctic Monkeys

[Missymoo]

Well this has ruined my weekend. 

[FrogLobster]

5 hours ago, ClementsMike said:

Any need to formally split up? Unless there’s some real beef it seems like they could just leave it, and come back one day … or not. 
or does it create a richer reunion if they actually disband? 

Probably will announce a split, then reform in like 10 years time. Its too profitable not to do it.

[charlierc]

I'm intrigued as to who else is on this album tbf. Foals and Fontaines shared WarChild's story so it hints they're getting quite a few names onto it.

[fraybentos1]

8 hours ago, charlierc said:

I'm intrigued as to who else is on this album tbf. Foals and Fontaines shared WarChild's story so it hints they're getting quite a few names onto it.

Them plus English teacher and Damon albarn are who I’ve read. Basically anyone that he’s produced an album for is likely imo 

[SPW]

When first heard of another War Child album I thought The Cure may do something on it - given they are active and they've supported War Child and their Record Store Day releases over the past 2 yrs (The Top and Head On The Door picture discs) have been in partnership with War Child. But not seen any hint of their name linked in thus far. 

[mufcok]

I'm told the WarChild song is from the AM era.

 

A tune that didn't make the cut, reworked.

[charlierc]

Yeah this checks with the rumour as it appeared both on the Reddit and on their fan forum. I guess we'll hear more when we get closer to the product's release date.

[charlierc]

On 11/01/2026 at 19:56, fraybentos1 said:

Them plus English teacher and Damon albarn are who I’ve read. Basically anyone that he’s produced an album for is likely imo 

Depeche Mode just shared the story, which lines up with Ford given he did produce some of their albums. 

[fraybentos1]

New track on Thursday!

[mufcok]

Giddy, but it also feels bittersweet.

 

Is it a coincidence that it drops one day before 20 years, to the day, of the first album? Probably 😅

[efcfanwirral]

On 12/01/2026 at 18:24, mufcok said:

I'm told the WarChild song is from the AM era.

 

A tune that didn't make the cut, reworked.

"Reworked" could mean anything with them!! 

[fraybentos1]

On 12/01/2026 at 18:24, mufcok said:

I'm told the WarChild song is from the AM era.

 

A tune that didn't make the cut, reworked.

I reckon it is this one below. Article is from 2022 so 10ish years before puts it in the AM recording era.

 

Do I have songs that haven't found their way into things yet? Definitely. There's one that's tried to get on a couple of records and didn't make it, and it's probably coming up on 10 years old now.

 

Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner on the soundtrack of his life

[mufcok]

47 minutes ago, fraybentos1 said:

I reckon it is this one below. Article is from 2022 so 10ish years before puts it in the AM recording era.

 

Do I have songs that haven't found their way into things yet? Definitely. There's one that's tried to get on a couple of records and didn't make it, and it's probably coming up on 10 years old now.

 

Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner on the soundtrack of his life

 

Yeah quite possibly.

 

I was also told that he played it to some people in Fagan's in Sheffield (I assume when he was photographed in there recently).

 

I do find this timing with the 20 years since album one very odd, seems too coincidental. Not that I'm expecting any sort of 'that's it' announcement, they don't strike me as the type. On the flip side, though, to do this and then just vanish for years again without saying anything would be a bit odd.

 

My head's fried, just want to go and watch them again.

 

[fraybentos1]

1 hour ago, mufcok said:

On the flip side, though, to do this and then just vanish for years again without saying anything would be a bit odd.

It depends how long they're away for. To me it seems like they aren't splitting up but are on an indefinite hiatus ( I think you used those words). More so than other breaks they've had in the sense that there are no plans going forward to record a new album. Maybe this will change in the future? Who knows. 

 

It's weird timing tho with them apparently being 'done' in 2023 but then getting together to record this 2 years later. I assume they're doing it as a favour to James Ford.

 

Do you know if the rumours they recorded this at Abbey Road in November are true? It lines up with Matt Helders being in the UK that month. 

 

Worst case scenario: they're done

Ok scenario: long period off, new album in 2030 

Fantasy scenario: they have a change of heart after recording this song and it spawns a new creative direction/ album 

[mufcok]

54 minutes ago, fraybentos1 said:

It depends how long they're away for. To me it seems like they aren't splitting up but are on an indefinite hiatus ( I think you used those words). More so than other breaks they've had in the sense that there are no plans going forward to record a new album. Maybe this will change in the future? Who knows. 

 

It's weird timing tho with them apparently being 'done' in 2023 but then getting together to record this 2 years later. I assume they're doing it as a favour to James Ford.

 

Do you know if the rumours they recorded this at Abbey Road in November are true? It lines up with Matt Helders being in the UK that month. 

 

Worst case scenario: they're done

Ok scenario: long period off, new album in 2030 

Fantasy scenario: they have a change of heart after recording this song and it spawns a new creative direction/ album 

 

That stacks up to me, re the bolded bit.

 

Yes I believe this tune was 'reworked' at Abbey Road in November, though I couldn't say that's gospel (if I remember rightly, it broke at the time and people, naturally, jumped to a new album conclusion).

 

Indefinite hiatus was what I was told in Autumn 2023. I was also told something a couple of weeks ago, alongside this tune being something from AM reworked, and it also leaned toward the 'hiatus' route. My two cents is that they are done, but classing it as a 'hiatus' leaves the door slightly ajar, should they decide they wanna do it again years down the line.

Edited January 21 by mufcok

[efcfanwirral]

26 minutes ago, mufcok said:

 

That stacks up to me, re the bolded bit.

 

Yes I believe this tune was 'reworked' at Abbey Road in November, though I couldn't say that's gospel (if I remember rightly, it broke at the time and people, naturally, jumped to a new album conclusion).

 

Indefinite hiatus was what I was told in Autumn 2023. I was also told something a couple of weeks ago, alongside this tune being something from AM reworked, and it also leaned toward the 'hiatus' route. My two cents is that they are done, but classing it as a 'hiatus' leaves the door slightly ajar, should they decide they wanna do it again years down the line.

Yeah I mean so many bands older than that have said they're definitely done and then come back - Stone Roses etc. who's to say what they'll feel like in a few years time

Edited January 21 by efcfanwirral

[fraybentos1]

32 minutes ago, mufcok said:

I was also told something a couple of weeks ago, alongside this tune being something from AM reworked, and it also leaned toward the 'hiatus' route

can you share what that is?

[mufcok]

22 minutes ago, fraybentos1 said:

can you share what that is?

 

I've gotta be careful with this stuff, and what I say, but it was essentially to very much treat it as a 'hiatus', rather than a split.

 

The thing with that, though, if you look at the actual meaning of the word hiatus, it's very much open to interpretation.

 

I honestly think that unless Alex comes out with another project; be it solo, TLSP, film score stuff or anything else, we'll be left in Monkeys purgatory. If Alex does any of those things then, aside from this one tune, you're staring down the barrel of a bare minimum 6 year break from The Car; factoring in the timescale around releases and touring.

 

I heard enough and saw enough in 2023 during that tour to treat this as them effectively been done. One tune for WarChild doesn't change that, not for me anyway.; and I say that as a fanboy who wants nothing more than to see them back touring with some more tunes. As I said above - if they silently disappear with whispers of a 'hiatus', that means they don't have to commit to anything. So the option is always there, should they decide the timing is right/something changes.

Edited January 21 by mufcok

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, mufcok said:

 

I've gotta be careful with this stuff, and what I say, but it was essentially to very much treat it as a 'hiatus', rather than a split.

 

The thing with that, though, if you look at the actual meaning of the word hiatus, it's very much open to interpretation.

 

I honestly think that unless Alex comes out with another project; be it solo, TLSP, film score stuff or anything else, we'll be left in Monkeys purgatory. If Alex does any of those things then, aside from this one tune, you're staring down the barrel of a bare minimum 6 year break from The Car; factoring in the timescale around releases and touring.

 

I heard enough and saw enough in 2023 during that tour to treat this as them effectively been done. One tune for WarChild doesn't change that, not for me anyway.; and I say that as a fanboy who wants nothing more than to see them back touring with some more tunes. As I said above - if they silently disappear with whispers of a 'hiatus', that means they don't have to commit to anything. So the option is always there, should they decide the timing is right/something changes.

 

With Arctics for me, had they played a couple at Glastonbury in 2013 they did at T 14 I probably wouldn't have needed to see them again. Glastonbury 2013 was almost perfect apart from then doing Mardy Bum in that silly sound. I honestly think Alex would rather not to anything than go back to doing music in a way he has personally passed by 

[mufcok]

5 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

With Arctics for me, had they played a couple at Glastonbury in 2013 they did at T 14 I probably wouldn't have needed to see them again. Glastonbury 2013 was almost perfect apart from then doing Mardy Bum in that silly sound. I honestly think Alex would rather not to anything than go back to doing music in a way he has personally passed by 

 

I love that version of Mardy Bum!

 

Yep, re the last sentence. Regardless of what people think of TBHC/The Car, the only reason they stayed relevant/successful for all of these years is changing it up each time.

 

Even though this new release originates from the AM era, I don't expect it to sound like the stuff from that album - I think it will have been heavily 'reworked' so the sound has some sort of continuation/progression from their last release, one song or not.

[fraybentos1]

9 minutes ago, mufcok said:

Even though this new release originates from the AM era, I don't expect it to sound like the stuff from that album - I think it will have been heavily 'reworked' so the sound has some sort of continuation/progression from their last release, one song or not.

guy on reddit is saying it is a bit like You're So Dark...

[mufcok]

9 minutes ago, fraybentos1 said:

guy on reddit is saying it is a bit like You're So Dark...

 

Hope so. Love that tune.

 

[northernangel]

23 minutes ago, mufcok said:

 

I love that version of Mardy Bum!

 

Yep, re the last sentence. Regardless of what people think of TBHC/The Car, the only reason they stayed relevant/successful for all of these years is changing it up each time.

 

Even though this new release originates from the AM era, I don't expect it to sound like the stuff from that album - I think it will have been heavily 'reworked' so the sound has some sort of continuation/progression from their last release, one song or not.

I think you can easy make another AM and it fly. The Car and TBH&C are two of the worst albums I know of. Also you don't juat decide to go on an indefinite hiatus if what you're currently doing still feel solid 

[fraybentos1]

8 minutes ago, mufcok said:

 

Hope so. Love that tune.

 

And it's called 'opening night'

[mufcok]

6 minutes ago, northernangel said:

I think you can easy make another AM and it fly. The Car and TBH&C are two of the worst albums I know of. Also you don't juat decide to go on an indefinite hiatus if what you're currently doing still feel solid 

 

Where as I love those albums and continuously revisit them, as well as holding plenty of special tour memories. That's what makes music great, it's subjective.

 

There could be plenty of reasons why the time is now to disband, or whatever it is.