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Arctic Monkeys member goes solo for debut album

Tom Rowley who has been a touring member of Arctic Monkeys for 12 years is releasing a debut solo album featuring production from Alex Turner

[Tom Rowley]

Tom Rowley has been touring with Arctics for 12 years

The unofficial fifth member of the Arctic Monkeys - Tom Rowley has gone solo.

The Sheffield rocker has spent the past 12 years touring with the 'Arctics as a key member and occasional co-writer, contributing guitar, keyboards and backing vocals since the AM era. Now Tom - who is also a member of the band Milburn - has had a little help from pal Alex Turner to help produce his debut album, Moses and The Drones which launches April 24.

"Its kind of not something I wanted to do, Tom says about going solo. But Ive always wrote songs and had an idea of what they shouldve been. Then someone else is singing it or performing it, and its never how you want it to be.

"So, it was like, well, if I dont do it, its never going to be what I want.

[Arctic Monkeys]

On stage with Alex Turner(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

One of the tracks on the album, Something Strange was produced by Turner, making it one of the only times Alex has co-produced on another artists project, and the legendary Loren Humphrey (Tame Impala) produced the rest.

Tom joined the 'Arctics when he was in a 'rut' after Milburn disbanded: It was the worst thing ever. then one Sunday I get this text off Cooky (Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook) Alright mate, do you still play keyboards?

Monkeys were going on tour, and they asked me to come in. I was hating my job, just f***ing miserable. So when that offer landed, it was like, yeah absolutely.

The full album was written during Toms downtime while on tour with Arctic Monkeys during Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino and The Car, and members of the Monkeys were coming in and out of Toms writing sessions with their anticipated approval.

[Alex Turner]

Alex Turner has produced one of Tom's songs (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)

Toms been sitting on his own material for years, and hes excited to finally get a project out to the world. The album blends Rowleys roots in guitar-driven alternative music with expansive arrangements and cinematic textures, drawing inspiration from classic songwriting while reflecting the shifting emotional and cultural landscape of the modern world.

Meanwhile the Arctic Monkeys recently returned with new single, Opening Night, their first new music since their 2022 album The Car. It features on the charity compilation album HELP(2) in aid of War Child UK, released in March.

[Arctic Monkeys ]

Arctic Monkeys came back in 202(Image: Phoebe Fox )

'Arctics drummer Matt Helders would not be drawn as to whether the band had any more new material imminent. He said that the band wanted the focus of their recent return to be aimed towards the War Child charity rather than their own music.

We're not looking for attention ever when we do stuff! It's not the thing that we like about it, he said. This is a reason we'd do something."

Nevertheless insiders say 2027 could be the year the band put out a full album.

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