Arctic Monkeys return after 4 years with new War Child charity single, Opening Night
Arctic Monkeys have released their much-anticipated charity single.
Arctic Monkeys are back with their first new music in four years – and it’s all for a good cause.
The indie legends have dropped Opening Night, the lead single from War Child Records’ new charity album HELP(2).
The project follows the original HELP album from 1995, which raised more than £1.2million for children caught up in the Bosnian conflict. Thirty years on, the charity says the need is even greater, with almost one in five children worldwide now living in war zones.
HELP(2) lands on March 6, with all proceeds going towards War Child’s emergency aid, education, mental health support and protection programmes for young people affected by conflict.
The album was put together during an intense week of recording at Abbey Road Studios in November 2025, overseen by producer James Ford. He brought together a huge line‑up of artists including Anna Calvi, Arlo Parks, Beck, Beth Gibbons, Big Thief, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Greentea Peng, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, Wet Leg and Young Fathers.
Damon Albarn teamed up with Johnny Marr, Kae Tempest and Grian Chatten for his track Flags, while Olivia Rodrigo recorded The Book of Love with Blur guitarist Graham Coxon.
Arctic Monkeys, who haven’t released new material since 2022’s The Car, said: “When James Ford called and asked if we’d contribute to the HELP(2) album we set to work on a song idea and assembled in Abbey Road to record it. We are proud to support the invaluable work War Child do and hope the record will make a positive difference to the lives of children affected by war.”
The visual side of the project is led by award‑winning filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, who created a concept titled By Children, For Children. Kids were given cameras both inside the studio and in conflict zones, including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen, linking the music directly to the young people it aims to help.
War Child UK’s Head of Music, Rich Clarke, added: “HELP(2) is more than an album. It’s a powerful example of what can happen when the music industry comes together around a shared purpose. It has united a diverse group of artists and creatives in support of War Child’s vital work with children affected by the devastating impacts of war. We are immensely grateful to all the artists and teams who have donated their voices, talent and time to support our mission to ensure that no child is caught up in conflict zones. We hope this record not only raises vital funds, but also awareness of the urgent need to turn compassion into action and do more to protect children living through war.”
