Uncovering the Artwork of Arctic Monkey's Debut Album
23 January - 22 March 2026
In 2006, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not became a
landmark debut, its smoke-filled cover became one of the most
recognisable images in modern music.
20 years to the day after its release, Don’t Believe the Hype invites visitors behind the curtain of the album’s iconic cover, revealing outtakes, inspiration, artefacts and everyday moments that presented youth culture of the time.
Far from marketing gloss or staged
performance, the album’s artwork
emerged from real nights out,
shared spaces, waiting around, and
unremarkable details that later took
on cultural meaning.
For the first time, see the material
that shaped the cover, including the
original photograph that inspired it.
UNSEEN IMAGES AND ARTEFACTS
THE ORIGINAL INSPIRATION BEHIND THE COVER PHOTO
THE STORIES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE
Chris McClure & Andy Nicholson... In Conversation
Wednesday 11 February 2026
7.30pm
We're pleased to announce a very special event - in conversation with original Arctic Monkeys bass player Andy Nicholson and the album cover star himself Chris McClure.
They’ll be revisiting the early days around the debut era, the context in which the band exploded, and how the imagery from that period shaped their cultural entry point.
The evening will be chaired by Harry from the 22 Grand Pod, who has spent the last few years archiving early-2000s indie culture through long-form interviews and social documentation.
Tickets £12
Photography: Alexandra Wolkowicz, Andy Brown, Scott Jones