Andy Nicholson

Andy Nicholson
Born	Andy James Nicholson 9 April 1986 (age 38) Sheffield, England
Occupation	Musician, DJ, record producer, photographer
Musical career
Genre	Indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival, electronica, hip hop
Instrument	Bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, drums, vocals
Years active	2002-present

Andy James Nicholson (born 9 April 1986) is an English musician, DJ, record producer, and photographer, best known as the original bassist of rock band Arctic Monkeys, which he left in 2006. In 2008, he founded Mongrel with Jon McClure of Reverend and The Makers. In 2009, he became the bassist for ex-Milburn frontman Joe Carnall's band The Book Club, but left later that year to join Reverend and The Makers. He is currently producing and performing in hip hop group Clubs & Spades with Maticmouth from Reverend Soundsystem.

Biography

Early years

An attendee of Stocksbridge High School, Nicholson was the only member of the Arctic Monkeys to not live in the High Green district, residing in nearby Hillsborough. Nicholson played bass guitar, and was seen as "the band wit, reliably swift with a self-deprecating quip." He played on "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" and the EPs "Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys" and "Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?".

Departure from Arctic Monkeys

The band announced in May 2006 that Nicholson would miss the band's forthcoming North America tour as he was suffering from "fatigue following an intensive period of touring", and would be temporarily replaced by Nick O'Malley of The Dodgems while Nicholson recovered. However, on 20 June 2006, it was announced that he was no longer part of the band, with Alex Turner later stating "we sorta found ourselves in a situation where we wanted to move forward". The band asked Nicholson to leave. Drummer Matt Helders later remarked: "It’s not for everyone, the traveling, I suppose ... He didn’t get specific. We didn’t want to drag all of that out of him ... We took [Nick] out to America and we just couldn't see going back to the way things were for whatever reason."

It was not until 2019 did Nicholson himself open up on his departure. In an interview with podcast The Michael Anthony Show, Nicholson told the host that leaving the band that he co-founded was "soul destroying". The bassist added that news of his imminent departure came as a huge shock and was far from mutual. Nicholson went on to detail the meeting which ended his time in the band and also painted a vivid picture of life in the years that followed which included struggles with mental health as well as a new search for identity. Despite this, Nicholson did state that he has since been on good terms with his former bandmates, with them often meeting up whenever they return to Sheffield.

Post-Arctic Monkeys

Initially, Nicholson began making a name for himself in Sheffield as a DJ, mainly as a resident at Threads, but also performing at Reverend Soundsystem (under the name AndyGun). He also remixed a Reverend and The Makers song "You Get So Alone Sometimes it Just Makes Sense". In November 2007 he made his DJ debut in London at a club event called Threads vs Filthy Few. In 2008, Nicholson formed Mongrel, which consisted of himself, Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers, Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell and Matt Helders from Arctic Monkeys, as well as London rapper Lowkey from the Poisonous Poets. They released their first album, Better Than Heavy on 7 March 2009. He was also in the band Lords of Flatbush, with Sheffield-based singer Steve Edwards and Louis Carnall formerly of Milburn, but left to concentrate on Mongrel. The position was handed over to his brother Rob Nicholson of Sheffield band Dead World Leaders. In August 2009, Nicholson joined ex-Milburn frontman Joe Carnall's band The Book Club, but left later that year when, on 23 December Jon McClure announced via his Twitter account and official website that Nicholson would be made an official member of Reverend and the Makers. He remained in the group until their 2010 hiatus but when they reformed in January 2012 Nicholson was replaced by his friend and former bandmate in The Book Club, Joe Carnall. Nicholson is currently producing and performing in hip-hop group Clubs & Spades with Maticmouth from Reverend Soundsystem. They made their live début at The Plug on Saturday 20 July 2013 as part of Tramlines Festival and their début album Stand Up was released on Monday 22 July 2013. He is also part of production duo Sticky Blood with Jamie Shield.

Navigation

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Members Alex Turner • Matt Helders • Jamie Cook • Nick O'Malley • Andy Nicholson (formerly) Studio albums Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not • Favourite Worst Nightmare • Humbug • Suck It and See • AM • Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino • The Car Other albums Beneath the Boardwalk • At the Apollo • Live at the Royal Albert Hall Extended plays Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys • Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys? Singles I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor • When the Sun Goes Down • Leave Before the Lights Come On • Brianstorm • Matador • Fluorescent Adolescent • Teddy Picker • Crying Lightning • Cornerstone • My Propeller • Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair • The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala • Suck It and See • Black Treacle • R U Mine? • Do I Wanna Know? • Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High • One for the Road • Arabella • Snap Out of It • Four Out of Five • Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino • There'd Better Be A Mirrorball • Body Paint • I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am Other songs Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not: The View from the Afternoon • Fake Tales of San Francisco • Dancing Shoes • You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me • Still Take You Home • Riot Van • Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured • Mardy Bum • Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But... • From the Ritz to the Rubble • A Certain Romance Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?: Cigarette Smoker Fiona • Despair in the Departure Lounge • No Buses • Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys? Favourite Worst Nightmare: D Is for Dangerous • Balaclava • Only Ones Who Know • Do Me a Favour • This House Is a Circus • If You Were There, Beware • The Bad Thing • Old Yellow Bricks • 505 Humbug: Dangerous Animals • Secret Door • Potion Approaching • Fire and the Thud • Dance Little Liar • Pretty Visitors • The Jeweller's Hands Suck It and See: She's Thunderstorms • Brick by Brick • Library Pictures • All My Own Stunts • Reckless Seranade • Piledriver Waltz • Love is a Laserquest • That's Where You're Wrong AM: I Want It All • No. 1 Party Anthem • Mad Sounds • Fireside • Knee Socks • I Wanna Be Yours Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino: Star Treatment • One Point Perspective • American Sports • Golden Trunks • The World's First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip • Science Fiction • She Looks Like Fun • Batphone • The Ultracheese The Car: Sculptures of Anything Goes • Jet Skis on the Moat • The Car • Big Ideas • Hello You • Mr Schwartz • Perfect Sense B-Sides: 2005: Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts • Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick; 2006: Stickin to the Floor • Settle for a Draw • 7 • Put Your Dukes Up John • Baby I'm Yours; 2007: If You Found This It's Probably Too Late • Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend • What If You Were Right the First Time? • Da Frame 2R • The Bakery • Plastic Tramp • Too Much to Ask • Bad Woman • The Death Ramps • Nettles; 2009: Red Right Hand • I Haven't Got My Strange • Catapult • Sketchead • Fright Lined Dining Room; 2010: Joining the Dots • The Afternoon's Hat • Don't Forget Whose Legs You're On; 2011: The Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap • I.D.S.T. • Little Illusion Machine (Wirral Riddler) • Evil Twin; 2012: You and I • Electricity; 2013: 2013 • Stop the World I Wanna Get Off With You • You're So Dark; 2018: Anyways Unreleased: Choo Choo • Cigarette Smoke • Knock a Door Run • On the Run From the MI5 • Wavin' Bye to the Train or the Bus • Space Invaders • Curtains Closed • Ravey Ravey Ravey Club Others: Come Together Video albums Scummy Man Concert tours Whatever People Say I Am Tour • Favourite Worst Nightmare Tour • Humbug Tour • Suck It And See Tour • AM Tour • Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Tour • The Car Tour Related articles Discography • Songs • Awards and nominations • Death Ramps • The Last Shadow Puppets (Discography) • Mongrel • Submarine