The Kooks

Formed on a whim by college friends Luke Pritchard and Paul Garred, The Kooks sent out demo tapes in the hope of getting some gigs, but instead received an offer of a record deal from Virgin Records. Signed just three months after forming without playing a gig, the band honed their skills by supporting The Thrills on tour before heading into the studio with Beck and Supergrass producer Tony Hoffer to record debut album Inside In/Inside Out (2006). Full of lovelorn, strummy guitar pop, the record became a huge success, selling 2 million copies and reaching Number 2 in the UK; with the singles Naïve and She Moves In Her Own Way becoming big summer hits. Public spats with Razorlight, Alex Turner and Lily Allen further boosted their profile before second album Konk (2008) shot to Number 1 in the UK led by the single Always Where I Need To Be. In 2008 bass player Max Rafferty left the band to be replaced by Peter Denton and drummer Paul Garred was forced into hiatus by a nerve problem in one of his arms.