With the Sheffield band's new album, Suck It and See, in stores today, drummer Matt Helders talks about the nature of celebrity, why he still lives in his hometown and his bromance with Diddy.
Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders hit the gossip headlines in 2009 when he struck up an unlikely bromance with P. Diddy on a trip to Miami , and again when he joined the hip-hop mogul’s band Diddy Dirty Money for a one-off performance last summer on a BBC talk show.
Speaking to The Grid before the band’s recent show at the Kool Haus (#HAR ), Helders opened up a bit about their friendship, stressing that it’s not just a big publicity stunt. Apparently, the two are actually pals.
“The relationship I have with him is quite interesting,” Helders said. “I’m in touch with him quite a bit, and he’s a genuine guy. So I suppose he wouldn’t want me to think of it as a novelty thing.
“However famous he is, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to be treated as if it’s a gimmick, me knowing him. That said, it’s still obviously going to blow people’s minds. And my own, when I think about it too much.”
Though Diddy has expressed fears their mere association would destroy the Arctic Monkeys’ indie cred, he made sure to wish Helders a happy birthday on Twitter recently and make the cheeky suggestion that he was sending over a Rolls-Royce Phantom as a gift. Helders says he hasn’t received any new wheels as of yet.
Yet while Helders has gotten used to hobnobbing around the U.S. with hip-hop idols, he says he often goes weeks without being recognized back at home in Sheffield, where three-quarters of the band are still residents.
“I never get recognized at home,” he says. “The majority of people just aren’t really fazed by it because we’re always there, and we’ve always been around similar places. It’s only when it’s a new year and a new set of students [in Sheffield]. They’re probably like, “I didn’t think they lived here still!”
Helders says he also believes that down-to-earth attitude is one of the reasons the Arctic Monkeys are still such good friends. While other frequent NME cover stars like The Strokes, The Libertines and Oasis have seen their intra-band relationships implode beyond repair, Helders credits the Monkeys’ long history keeps them from brawling in the dressing room before gigs.
“There’s a lot of things said about various bands, that they can’t be in the same room as each other. But we’re the opposite of that. We’ve all known each other since we were kids. So we’ve got more in common, more to talk about.”
“I’ve known Alex since I was like, seven years old. And the others, ten or 11. So that foundation was already there. We know how to deal with each other without getting to a point where we’re like, “Fuck off!”
Arctic Monkeys’ fourth album, Suck It And See , is released today. Check out the video for lead single “Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair”:
