Art Brut

Art Brut

Art Brut is an indie rock and alternative rock group from Deptford, United Kingdom, active since 2003. The band forms around vocalist Eddie Argos, with the current line-up including Ian Catskilkin, Freddy Feedback, Mikey B, Chris Chinchilla and Jasper Future. Their music is also associated with art punk, lo-fi, post-punk revival and punk rock.

Formation and early years

Argos previously plays in The Art Goblins in Bournemouth and in another project called The Welsh Elephant before moving to London and starting Art Brut. The band begins after Argos talks to people at a party in Mornington Crescent about forming a new group. Chris Chinchilla, a webzine editor and guitarist, joins first, followed by Argos’s German flatmate Freiderike Feedback on bass, friend Ian Catskilkin on guitar, and Mikey Breyer on drums after the band tracks down a drummer heard on a bus.

The group starts in May 2003 and gives its first independently promoted show at the Kentish Town Verge. At that point, the gig is booked before the band is fully ready, and Breyer plays sitting down because his drum kit has not yet arrived.

Early recordings and break-through singles

The band records a demo called Brutlegs, which includes early versions of “Formed A Band”, “Modern Art” and “Moving To LA”, and makes it available on its website. “Formed A Band” first appears on an Angular Records compilation before Rough Trade offers to release it as a single after a journalist sends the label an MP3. The single reaches No. 52 and draws significant attention in the music press.

Later in 2004 the band releases another demo collection, Brutlegs 2004, with versions of “Good Weekend”, “Bang Bang Rock And Roll” and an acoustic “Moving To LA”. In December 2004 it releases a double A-side single of “Modern Art” and “My Little Brother” on Fierce Panda, which reaches No. 49. The sleeves for the 7-inch are hand-designed by the band and fans.

Albums and labels

Art Brut’s debut album is completed in early 2005. Its second album, It’s a Bit Complicated, comes out on Mute Records and is produced by Dan Swift. The first single from it, “Nag Nag Nag Nag”, includes the B-side “I Found This Song in the Road” and live tracks from the Eurockéennes de Belfort Festival. The song is named Single of the Week in The Guardian’s The Guide section.

The band later leaves EMI and returns with its third album, Art Brut vs. Satan, produced by Frank Black, formerly of the Pixies.

Live work and collaborations

Art Brut performs at a first anniversary show at the Tate Modern, where it is joined by David Devant and His Spirit Wife’s Vessel and Carter USM’s Les Carter. It also records and releases material with other acts, including guest vocals on “Top Of The Pops” with Ciccone, The Boyfriends, The Long Blondes, Abdoujaparov, Prozak, Rhesus and Luxembourg, and a US-only split 7-inch with We Are Scientists. We Are Scientists later covers “Bang Bang Rock & Roll”, and Art Brut’s version also appears on Crap Attack.

The band tours and plays festivals including Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival, Festival Internacional de Benicàssim and Dour Festival. It also plays on the American NME Rock and Roll Riot tour with The Hold Steady.

Line-up changes and wider context

Chris Chinchilla leaves the band in late August 2005 and is replaced by Jasper Future, a former Art Goblin. In September 2013, long-serving members Mikey Breyer and Jasper Future retire and are replaced by Toby Macfarlaine on guitar and Stephen Gilchrist on drums. The band name remains active after these changes.

Eddie Argos is presented as central to the group’s identity, with references in the band’s early history to his theatrical stage presence, including playing a vacuum cleaner and escaping from a sack. The band’s early songs include “I Wanna Be Johnny Dean”, “Disco”, “Good Weekend”, “Bang Bang Rock And Roll”, “Formed A Band”, “Modern Art” and “Moving To LA”.