Art Brut

Art Brut
Art Brut in 2006. From left to right: Feedback, Future, Catskilkin, Breyer (behind), and Argos.
Art Brut in 2006. From left to right: Feedback, Future, Catskilkin, Breyer (behind), and Argos.
Background information
OriginLondon
Genres
Years active2003–present
LabelsFierce Panda
Mute Records
Downtown Records
Cooking Vinyl
Alcopop! Records
MembersEddie Argos
Ian Catskilkin
Freddy Feedback
Toby MacFarlaine
Charlie Layton
Past membersChris Chinchilla
Mikey Breyer
Jasper Future
Stephen Gilchrist

Art Brut is an English indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007. Named after French painter Jean Dubuffet's definition of outsider art – art by prisoners, loners, the mentally ill, and other marginalized people, and made without thought to imitation or presentation – South London's Art Brut were tagged by NME as part of the "Art Wave" scene that also included bands such as The Rakes, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. The band released further albums, Art Brut vs Satan in 2009 and Brilliant! Tragic! in 2011. A fifth album, Wham! Bang! Pow! Let's Rock Out!", was released in 2018.

The band's sound is characterised by their straightforward guitar rock setup, as well as frontman Eddie Argos' enthusiastic sprechgesang-style vocal delivery, and his humorous, often self-reflexive lyrics about music, relationships and other personal interests.