Concrete Playground Meets The Arctic Monkeys

After a huge 2011 - a new album and a year long world tour, the Arctic Monkeys landed in Australia post-Christmas.

The band is back in Sydney this week to perform two sold-out shows and, lucky for us, the perfectly coiffed and sonorous toned lead singer, Alex Turner, took time out to chat to Concrete Playground's Rachel Fuller about counting down to 2012, Sydney and his current obsession - motorbikes.

Hey Alex, thanks so much for chatting to me today and lovely to meet you.
Hey Rachel, no worries. You too!

I was down in Tassie for Falls and saw you guys play on the 30th, thanks for a great show!
Yeah, it was a great festival, a great couple of days. We hadn't played for a while so we were a little rusty but it was good to get back into it.

And you brought in the New Year at Lorne? What song did you go with?
Yeah, well it was a bit of a fucking mess, it was all a bit confused. We were meant to go off and we thought there was going to be a countdown. But it was ok, we went off and then came back on and we played Fluorescent Adolescent and it was fine. Everyone was drunk and having fun – us included – so it really didn't matter in the end.

My friends and I were talking about the logistical nightmare in getting all the bands from Tassie to Lorne and vice versa. Was it total chaos in the time-space continuum? Or are you guys just used to the back to backs?
Sure, I mean, we flew the morning after the show and then had to get a coach from Melbourne to Lorne. It was a bit of a drive.

And did you get to walk around the festival at all and see some other acts?
Not really. We saw Aloe Blacc. No one else. But the kids were loving it. The kids!

You must be totally exhausted after such a huge year of touring. After all this time have you perfected some sort of balance between the highs of performing and finding down time?
Yeah, well we had a great year and we are really enjoying playing live. On top of that we have had a good response to the new record so we are having a buzz.

But how do you sustain the buzz?
Well, when I say buzz I mean internal buzz. We have got into a good rhythm and a good place this year. Really, we have hit our stride. And we have really been enjoying playing in the States; we have played there a few times this year.

And you are heading back in a couple of months?
Yeah, we will be supporting the Black Keys and we are huge fans of theirs.

You are obviously a really talented songwriter, Alex, do you ever imagine yourself branching out and writing longer pieces, away from music?
No, I don't think so. I don't think I am really capable of writing anything else. I'm happy with the song.

And lastly, since you guys have been to Sydney quite a few times, is there anything you are really looking forward to getting up to whilst you are here?
Yeah, well we have had loads of good times, too many to mention, Rachel. I had my birthday there once, down at the beach. I think we are just really looking forward to playing. I might try surfing, I keep saying that, but now might be the time. One thing we will be doing will be going to this place called Deus Ex Machina, they have this thing on.

That's cool, I know the guy that runs Deus.
Oh yeah? What's his name again?

Dare Jennings.
That's right. And he started Mambo, right?

Yeah. So I am guessing you have a motorbike?
Yeah.

And Deus pretty much has the coolest bikes in the world.
Yeah, the coolest!

Well, you have fun Alex and best of luck for your Australian shows over the next couple of weeks. And thanks for your time!
Thanks Rachel, we will, catch you round.