The Last Shadow Puppets

The Last Shadow Puppets

The Last Shadow Puppets are an English group from Sheffield, formed in 2007 by Alex Turner and Miles Kane. Their membership also includes James Ford and Zach Dawes, although the core line-up centres on Turner and Kane. The group is active from 2007 to the present and is associated with baroque pop, chamber pop, indie rock and rock.

Formation and early connections

Turner and Kane become friends after The Little Flames support Arctic Monkeys on tour in 2005. They begin the project as co-frontmen, building songs around shared influences such as Scott Walker and David Bowie. Their work draws directly on those inspirations, especially early Bowie and Walker.

Albums and chart success

The band release two studio albums: The Age of the Understatement in 2008 and Everything You’ve Come to Expect in 2016. Both albums reach number one in the UK albums chart. Their debut is produced by James Ford and includes string arrangements by Owen Pallett. It also features the singles “The Age of the Understatement”, “Standing Next to Me” and “My Mistakes Were Made for You”.

Everything You’ve Come to Expect follows a long hiatus and is recorded in Malibu, California, at Shangri-La. It features the return of the earlier personnel alongside Zach Dawes, who is added on bass. The album is preceded by the singles “Bad Habits”, “Everything You’ve Come to Expect”, “Aviation” and “Miracle Aligner”.

Live work, covers and hiatuses

After their first period of activity, Turner and Kane reunite for occasional performances, including an acoustic set in Los Angeles in 2011 and appearances with Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane at shows in Paris, Glastonbury, Mexico and London. During the 2016 touring cycle they play major festivals including Coachella, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Primavera Sound, Rockwave, T in the Park, Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, where they perform “Moonage Daydream” in memory of David Bowie. At Alexandra Palace, they are joined by Johnny Marr for “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”.

In 2016 they release the EP The Dream Synopsis, which includes re-recordings of “Aviation” and “The Dream Synopsis” and cover versions of songs by The Fall, Jacques Dutronc, Glaxo Babies and Leonard Cohen. After this release the group goes on hiatus.

Awards and recognition

The group is nominated for a BRIT Award in the British Breakthrough category and shortlisted for the Mercury Prize for The Age of the Understatement. The debut album is also nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize and wins attention for its chart-topping performance in the UK.