Art Brut

Art Brut, an English indie rock band, formed in London in 2003. The band’s name, inspired by French painter Jean Dubuffet’s definition of outsider art, reflects their punk ethos and approach to music. The initial lineup featured Eddie Argos on vocals, Chris Chinchilla and Ian Catskilkin on guitars, Freddy Feedback on bass guitar, and Mikey Breyer on drums. They played their first live performance in May 2003 at The Verge in Kentish Town. Early on, Art Brut recorded demos of songs like “Formed a Band” and “Modern Art,” which helped define their early sound and gained them recognition within the New Cross scene.

Their debut single, “Formed a Band,” was released in March 2004 through Rough Trade, reaching number 52 on the UK Singles Chart. Following this, their double A-side single, “Modern Art” / “My Little Brother” (December 2004) under Fierce Panda, climbed to number 49, marking it as Fierce Panda’s highest-charting single at the time. This success led to their signing with Fierce Panda for their debut album, “Bang Bang Rock & Roll,” released in May 2005. The album included re-recorded versions of early tracks and new material. The band’s extensive touring in support of the album included two support slots with Oasis in October 2005 and a cover feature on the German edition of Rolling Stone magazine.

Art Brut continued to evolve, signing with Mute Records in Europe and Downtown Records in the United States in 2006. This period saw them touring the U.S. and appearing as musical guests on shows like ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien.’ Their second album, “It’s a Bit Complicated,” released in June 2007, reached No. 14 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Despite a brief interruption in their relationship with EMI-owned Mute, Art Brut released their third album, “Art Brut vs. Satan,” in 2009, produced by Frank Black. Their fifth album, “Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!,” was released in 2018 through Alcopop! Records, showcasing their enduring presence in the indie rock landscape.