Monkeys look good

The band's debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' is the fastest selling debut album ever, reportedly selling more than the rest of the top 40 album chart put together.

And the group appeared at the weekend's NME Awards tour show at the Manchester Academy in what, for many fans, was the most highly anticipated concert of the year.

The four bands on the line-up had been especially chosen by the weekly music magazine to represent the crme de la crme of contemporary music - but for most of the 1,800 capacity crowd the biggest draw was undoubtedly the Arctic Monkeys.

Playing the singles 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor' and 'When The Sun Goes Down', and dedicating songs to their friends from South Yorkshire, the four boys who make up the Arctic Monkeys didn't disappoint.

It shows why the band, who are from Sheffield and formed in 2002 after meeting at college, are currently holding the top spot in the album chart and a top ten slot in the singles chart. Both of their singles released so far have been number one hits.

They have also been hailed as the forerunners of a musical revolution after they built up a huge and dedicated fan base by distributing their music for free at gigs and via the Internet site MySpace.

The limited edition debut EP 'Five Minutes With' The Arctic Monkeys' is now fetching high prices on eBay.

Singer Alex Turner has been hailed as the voice of a generation. Playing alongside the Arctic Monkeys were London band Mystery Jets, Brooklyn-based We Are Scientists and the Newcastle-born Maximo Park, who headlined the line-up.

The Arctic Monkeys have found that a gruelling touring schedule accompanies their new-found success.

The band have been on the road since last October. They will visit America after the NME Awards tour and will return to venues in Britain in April.

Tickets for the April shows sold out within 30 minutes, and critics predict the band could become as big as fellow northern rockers Oasis.