<P> Turner 's parents bought him a guitar for Christmas 2001 . In a 2013 interview , Turner states that it was during this time that he first began writing songs , using a bass guitar and an assortment of microphones . In mid-2002 , Turner , Cook , Nicholson and Helders decided to form a band , having watched friends including Milburn play at local pubs . The name Arctic Monkeys was conceived by Cook . Turner initially did not want to be the singer ; a number of schoolmates including Glyn Jones tried out before he became the frontman . All four were beginners on their instruments ; they practiced in both Turner and Helders ' garages and , later , at an unused warehouse in Wath . According to Helders ' mother , who drove the teenagers to and from their rehearsal space three times a week : `` If they knew you were there , they would just stop so we had to sneak in ... Half the time , though , they were playing table tennis . '' At first , the band 's original songs featured nonsense words but Turner eventually began to share his own lyrics with his bandmates : `` I had this sense of dread that the others would laugh me out of the room . Mickey - taking is a useful quality control . '' They practised for a year before playing a live show : `` A lot of people have an idea of the music they wan na make and then they go make it , but we started the band to have something to do and then figured all that stuff out . '' `` I 'm quite easily influenced . I could have ended up anywhere with a little push from whoever . So it was important that it was us four . '' Their first gig was on Friday , 13 June 2003 , supporting The Sound at a local pub called The Grapes . Their eight - song set comprised three covers and five self - composed songs . </P>
where did the arctic monkeys get their name
The name Arctic Monkeys was conceived by Cook