Lily Allen has explained how she almost formed a band with Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner.

Allen, who emerged on the popular culture scene around the same time Arctic Monkeys released their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and has been close friends with the Sheffield-based band since.

Reminiscing about times their paths have crossed in the music industry, Allen revealed that she and Turner discussed working together: “We were meant to do a band together once, called Rupert The Band, me and Alex Turner,” she told NME. “I haven’t seen him for a long time. He lives in LA now. Avoiding tax. Yeah,” she joked.

Asked about Arctic Monkeys new album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, a record that initially split opinion but now seems to be well received, Allen said: “I like that new record,” before adding: “It’s like cliché rock’n’roll, but I like it. You know what I mean? I knew it wasn’t going to be Sheffield rock again, but it’s like everything that I expected from a bunch of lads living in Hollywood, from Sheffield, to come up with and I like it for that.”

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