{{short description|English musician (born 1986)}} {{For|those of the same name|Andy Nicholson (production designer)|Andrew Nicholson (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Andy Nicholson | image = Andy Nicholson (cropped).jpg | caption = Nicholson performing with the Arctic Monkeys in 2006 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|4|9}} | alias = {{flatlist| *AndyGun *Goldteeth }} | origin = Hillsborough, Sheffield, England | instrument = {{flatlist| * Bass guitar }} | genre = {{flatlist| * Indie rock * electronica * post-punk revival * garage rock * hip hop }} | occupation = Musician | years_active = | current_member_of = {{hlist|Clubs & Spades|Sticky Blood}} | past_member_of = {{hlist|Arctic Monkeys|Lords of Flatbush|Mongrel|The Book Club|Reverend and the Makers}} | website = }} '''Andy James Nicholson''' (born 9 April 1986) is an English musician, best known as the original bassist of the rock band Arctic Monkeys, which he left in 2006. In 2008, he founded Mongrel with Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/mongrel/38159 |title=MONGREL announce debut live dates |date=15 July 2008 |publisher=NME| access-date=16 November 2013}}</ref> In 2009, he became the bassist for ex-Milburn frontman Joe Carnall's band The Book Club,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/46735 |title=Ex-Arctic Monkeys man gigging with new band: Andy Nicholson gearing up with Joe Carnall And The Book Club |date=17 August 2009 |publisher=NME| access-date=16 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/46954 |title=Ex-Arctic Monkeys man speaks about new band: Andy Nicholson talks about new project Book Club |date=28 August 2009 |publisher=NME| access-date=16 November 2013}}</ref> but left later that year to join Reverend and the Makers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nme.com/news/Reverend-and-the-makers/49028 |title=Ex-Arctic Monkeys member joins Reverend and the Makers Reverend and the Makers: Andy Nicholson is officially unveiled as the band's new member |date=23 December 2009 |publisher=NME| access-date=16 November 2013}}</ref> He is currently producing and performing in the hip-hop group Clubs & Spades with Maticmouth from Reverend Soundsystem.
==Biography== ===Early days=== 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.<ref name="Blender">{{cite news|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1897 |newspaper=Blender |title=The Lads Are Alright |date=May 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504063027/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1897 |archive-date=4 May 2006 }}</ref> Nicholson played bass guitar, and was seen as "the band wit, reliably swift with a self-deprecating quip".<ref name="Blender" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/23130| publisher=NME| title= Arctic Monkeys lose a member| date=22 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/arctic-monkeys-too-much-monkey-business-479704.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/arctic-monkeys-too-much-monkey-business-479704.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Arctic Monkeys: Too much monkey business|work=The Independent|date=25 May 2006 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, on 20 June 2006, it was announced that he was no longer part of the band,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/23380| title=Arctic Monkeys bassist leaves band| publisher=NME| date=19 April 2006| access-date=25 September 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071119022317/http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/23380| archive-date=19 November 2007| url-status= live}}</ref> with Alex Turner later stating "we sorta found ourselves in a situation where we wanted to move forward".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/24039| title=Arctic Monkeys on split: "We wanted to move forward"| date=23 August 2006| publisher=NME| access-date=25 September 2007}}</ref> The band asked Nicholson to leave. Drummer Matt Helders later remarked: "It's not for everyone, the travelling, 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/matt-helders-pop-success-with-arctic-monkeys/|title=Matt Helders: Pop Success With Arctic Monkeys|website=Drummagazine.com|date=11 July 2011 }}</ref>
It was not until 2019 that Nicholson himself opened 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 that 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/former-arctic-monkeys-bassist-andy-nicholson-on-his-soul-destroying-departure-from-band-2574471|title=Arctic Monkeys' former bassist Andy Nicholson considered suicide following "soul-destroying" departure |website=Nme.com|date=12 November 2019}}</ref>
===Post-Arctic Monkeys=== Initially, Nicholson began making a name for himself in Sheffield as a DJ, mainly as a resident at Threads,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.threadsproductions.com/content/view/45/189/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214190600/http://www.threadsproductions.com/content/view/45/189/|url-status=dead|title=Threads Residents|archive-date=14 February 2008}}</ref> but also performing at Reverend Soundsystem (under the name AndyGun).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/andygun|title=Featured Content on Myspace|work=Myspace}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title = Former Arctic Monkey Andy Nicholson to play London |url = http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/32172 |publisher = NME |date = 31 October 2007 |access-date = 5 January 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080103112854/http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/32172| archive-date= 3 January 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
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 lone album, ''Better Than Heavy'' on 7 March 2009.
He was also in the band Lords of Flatbush,<ref>{{cite web|author=UK |url=http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=371169722 |title=Lords of Flatbush | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's |publisher=Profile.myspace.com |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805013605/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile |archive-date=5 August 2010 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadworldleaders.com/|title=Deadworldleaders.com|access-date=6 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229101423/http://www.deadworldleaders.com/|archive-date=29 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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 (having made occasional live appearances with them prior to this). 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 debut at The Plug on Saturday 20 July 2013 as part of Tramlines Festival<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.the-plug.com/events-and-tickets/live/tramlines-steve-papa-edwards-hot-soles-clubs-and-spades-scoundrel-fallen| title=TRAMLINES WITH STEVE PAPA EDWARDS, HOT SOLES, CLUBS AND SPADES & SCOUNDREL, FALLEN TREES| date=20 July 2013| publisher=The Plug| access-date=3 December 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208004013/https://www.the-plug.com/events-and-tickets/live/tramlines-steve-papa-edwards-hot-soles-clubs-and-spades-scoundrel-fallen| archive-date=8 December 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref> and their debut album ''Stand Up'' was released on Monday 22 July 2013.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/stand-up/id677964430| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305034456/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/stand-up/id677964430| url-status=dead| archive-date=5 March 2014| title=iTunes Preview: Stand Up by Clubs & Spades | date=24 July 2013 | publisher=iTunes| access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> He is also part of production duo Sticky Blood with Jamie Shield.
As of 2019, Nicholson has been writing, recording and producing music under the name Goldteeth. In 2024, he played bass for hip-hop group Kneecap on the track "Better Way To Live", from their album ''Fine Art'', alongside members of rock band Fontaines D.C. and producer Toddla T.
In late 2025, Nicholson announced he was releasing a photo book ''I Bet This Looks Good on Your Coffee Table'' referencing the Arctic Monkeys song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor". The book contains photos of the band taken by Nicholson between 2005 and 2007.
==Political views== In November 2019, along with 34 other musicians, Nicholson signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election with a call to end austerity.<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/musicians-backing-jeremy-corbyns-labour|title=Musicians backing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour|work=The Guardian|date=25 November 2019|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="theguardian2">{{cite news |last=Gayle|first=Damien|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/musicians-backing-jeremy-corbyns-labour|title=Stormzy backs Labour in election with call to end austerity|work=The Guardian|date=25 November 2019|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{cci}}
{{Arctic Monkeys}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholson, Andy}} Category:Living people Category:English record producers Category:English rock bass guitarists Category:English male bass guitarists Category:Arctic Monkeys members Category:Musicians from Sheffield Category:1986 births Category:21st-century English bass guitarists Category:Mongrel (band) members