Fact #113103
When:
Short story:
Arctic Monkeys begin their first American tour with a show at The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, Cal;ifornia, USA.Full article:
Michael Harrison (Tour Director, Frontier Touring, Australia) : The first time I saw them was, I think, their second gig in America, in San Francisco, a beautiful little ornate sort of town hall venue. I flew there specifically to see them play. I really wanted to represent them in Australia. They were the first real band that was broken big by the internet. We'd heard that story in Australia so I wanted to see them.
I went to the soundcheck and met all the guys and they were so genuine, lovely and friendly. The team then was their managers, Geoff Barradale and Ian McAndrew, plus their agent Charlie Myatt. Ian and I had worked together previously when I promoted Travis in Australia. And when Ian was still in partnership with Colin Lester I'd done Craig David. So I had a good working relationship and friendship with Ian.
(Source : interview with Johnny Black, Audience magazine, August 2014)
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) : : We've seen what it takes for most bands to happen in America, and it often seems as much about promotion as the quality of the music, and I just don't see us doing all that.
Besides, I remember hating it when it felt like bands were being shoved down your throat by record companies and the media. There is already all this talk about hype surrounding us, and it makes us uncomfortable. We certainly don't want to add to it. We love playing shows, but forget the rest.
Topping the charts was never our goal. We just wanted to make the best record we could. Now, I'd like us to be able to grow like the Clash. When they started, it was a very basic, punky record. Then they started to take off and move in lots of directions. That's what we want.
(Source : interview with Robert Hillburn, LA Times, Apr 2, 2006)
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I went to the soundcheck and met all the guys and they were so genuine, lovely and friendly. The team then was their managers, Geoff Barradale and Ian McAndrew, plus their agent Charlie Myatt. Ian and I had worked together previously when I promoted Travis in Australia. And when Ian was still in partnership with Colin Lester I'd done Craig David. So I had a good working relationship and friendship with Ian.
(Source : interview with Johnny Black, Audience magazine, August 2014)
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) : : We've seen what it takes for most bands to happen in America, and it often seems as much about promotion as the quality of the music, and I just don't see us doing all that.
Besides, I remember hating it when it felt like bands were being shoved down your throat by record companies and the media. There is already all this talk about hype surrounding us, and it makes us uncomfortable. We certainly don't want to add to it. We love playing shows, but forget the rest.
Topping the charts was never our goal. We just wanted to make the best record we could. Now, I'd like us to be able to grow like the Clash. When they started, it was a very basic, punky record. Then they started to take off and move in lots of directions. That's what we want.
(Source : interview with Robert Hillburn, LA Times, Apr 2, 2006)