Matthew Helders born 7 May 1986 is an English musician and DJ, best known as the drummer for indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. He is seen as the band’s «quietly amiable diplomat.»
Helders has said that he ended up playing drums as «that was the only thing left. When we started the band none of us played anything. We just put it together. They all had guitars and I bought a drum kit after a bit. However, Helders has stated the influence rap music has had on the band, saying «We were rap fans at school more than now…it still influences us in some ways, like for me, it’s the drummin’. The groove element, like foon-keh music. In addition, Helders cites seeing Queens of the Stone Age as the biggest influence on his development as a drummer, saying «the one thing that changed me most was seeing Queens of the Stone Age live at a festival last year…as soon as they came off I was like ‘Fuck – I need to start hitting harder’. Helders also explained the band’s insistence on singing in their native Sheffield accent, saying, «when you talk between the songs at a gig and you’re speakin’ English in our normal accent, it seems a bit strange when you burst into song like you’re from California or something…it looks a bit daft.
In a similar fashion to other members of the band, Helders has remained true to his hometown roots, suggesting that seeing places all over the world makes him more appreciative of Sheffield, which still provides the basis for the band’s lyrics. «And all around you, there’s still plenty of things to write about. Touring lets you see a lot of places that you realise you wouldn’t want to live in…and when you come home, it’s pretty easy to slip into your old ways, to all the places you’ve always gone. Helders also points out that despite the fame of the band, he can still avoid being mobbed in the street – «If we all go out together at night clubbing, it’s difficult, but alone you don’t get recognised much.»Although he continued to live at home with his parents during the band’s early career, Helders has followed Cook in moving into his own house, but has nonetheless stayed in the Sheffield area, saying «we still all live in the same place we grew up. It’s probably just how we were brought up. We’re never going to move away to London.
The most comprehensive backing vocalist of the group, his vocals have been featured on many of the band’s songs. He often sings in response to or in harmony with lead singer Alex Turner, and sings lead vocals on «D Is for Dangerous,» «Brick by Brick,» and «I.D.S.T.,» as well as on parts of «You Probably Couldn’t See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me,» «Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?,» and «Teddy Picker.» Also, during two shows of the North American leg of the band’s Humbug Tour, he sang an interpolation of Wham!’s «Last Christmas» during an encore performance of «Fluorescent Adolescent».
Helders remixed We Rule The World, the Hives’s fourth single from The Black and White Album, and «Skin Divers,» Duran Duran’s second single from «Red Carpet Massacre.» He recently drummed with We Are Scientists at some of their recent UK shows as well as remixing their second single «Chick Lit» as a b-side for the vinyl release. He is featured onToddla T’s album «Skanky Skanky.» He also remixed «Again & Again» for Roots Manuva, which gained airplay from Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1.
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