The best bands from Yorkshire

1 August 2024, 06:00

Great Yorkshire acts: Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Def Leppard.
Great Yorkshire acts: Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Def Leppard. Picture: Mercury Records/Hulton Archive/Courtesy of Getty Images/Martin Goodacre/Zackerey Michael/Press

Celebrate Yorkshire Day with some of the biggest tunes and greatest acts to come from that fine county.

  1. Pulp

    The Jarvis Cocker-fronted band hail from Sheffield in South Yorkshire.

    Sorted For E's & Wizz

  2. Arctic Monkeys

    The Monkeys, who formed in a suburb called High Green, follow a long line of talented Sheffield bands.

    Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down (Official Video)

  3. Kaiser Chiefs

    The band’s signature single, I Predict A Riot, depicted a night out in their hometown of Leeds.

    Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot (New Lighter Version)

  4. Shed Seven

    Shed Seven weren't formed in a shed, but their name does come from a railway shed they spotted in York.

  5. The Cribs

    Twin Brothers Gary and Ryan Jarman, joined by younger brother Ross, make up the Wakefield trio.

    The Cribs - I'm A Realist

  6. Embrace

    Bridghouse, West Yorkshire is the home of Danny Mcnamara and co.

    Embrace - All You Good Good People

  7. Bring Me The Horizon

    Bring Me The Horizon may hail from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, but their earliest influences come from the American metalcore genre.

    Bring Me The Horizon - Medicine (Official Video)

  8. The Pigeon Detectives

    The band from Rothwell in Leeds came up with their name after a in-joke which apparently stuck.

    The Pigeon Detectives - This Is An Emergency

  9. Def Leppard

    Heavy Metal band Def Lep are still rocking out today, coming from humble beginnings in 70s Sheffield.

    Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me (version 1: UK concept)

  10. The Cult

    Despite singer Ian Astbury hailing from Merseyside and guitarist Billy Duffy coming from Manchester, Bradford was where the goth rockers formed and were based. Astbury now lives in LA.

    The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

  11. Terrorvision

    Originally named The Spoilt Bratz, Terrorvision formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, before making Bradford their base.

    Terrorvision - Tequilla

  12. The Human League

    The Human League - best known for their No.1 hit Don't You Want Me - formed in Sheffield in the late 70s. They were early UK adopters of synth technology and produced two albums of stark electronica before going full on “pop”.

    The Human League - Open Your Heart

  13. Soft Cell

    The Leeds synth-pop duo of Marc Almond and Dave Ball’s greatest hit was a cover of Northern Soul track, Tainted Love.

    Soft Cell Tainted Love (1981)

  14. Gang Of Four

    Post punk pioneers Gang Of Four formed in Leeds in the late 70s.

    Gang Of Four - At Home He's A Tourist (1979)

  15. Heaven 17

    Best known for their hit, Temptation, which featured in the cult film Trainspotting, Heaven 17 were formed in Sheffield in the early 1980s from former members of The Human League. They get their name from a fictional band in the movie A Clockwork Orange.

    Heaven 17 - Temptation (Official Video)