The Kooks

Biography

The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton in 2004. The classic line-up consisted of Luke Pritchard (vocals/guitar), Hugh Harris (lead guitar), Paul Garred (drums), and Max Rafferty (bass). The band's music is primarily influenced by the 1960s British Invasion and the post-punk revival of the new millennium.

Formation and Breakthrough

The original members of The Kooks met as students at the BRIT School and later at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Taking their name from a David Bowie song, they signed to Virgin Records just three months after forming. Their debut album, "Inside In/Inside Out" (2006), was a massive commercial success, peaking at number two on the UK Albums Chart and selling over two million copies worldwide. The album featured hit singles like "Eddie's Gun", "Naïve", and "She Moves in Her Own Way". This early success led to them winning the Best UK & Ireland Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2006.

Member Changes and Subsequent Albums

In 2008, bassist Max Rafferty left the band and was temporarily replaced by Dan Logan. Despite this change, their second album, "Konk" (2008), recorded at Ray Davies' studio, went straight to number one in the UK. Over the years, the band has seen several lineup changes. Original drummer Paul Garred departed in 2009 due to health reasons, and Peter Denton took over on bass. The current lineup consists of Luke Pritchard, Hugh Harris, and Alexis Nunez on drums.

Musical Evolution

The Kooks' sound has evolved over their career. Their third album, "Junk of the Heart" (2011), saw them reunite with "Inside In/Inside Out" producer Tony Hoffer. With their fourth album, "Listen" (2014), they collaborated with hip-hop producer Inflo, incorporating elements of soul and dance into their sound. Subsequent albums include "Let's Go Sunshine" (2018) and "10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark" (2022), which was inspired by European cities and initially released as a series of EPs.

Discography

Studio Albums:

• Inside In/Inside Out (2006)
• Konk (2008)
• Junk of the Heart (2011)
• Listen (2014)
• Let's Go Sunshine (2018)
• 10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark (2022)