The Distractions has been played on NTS shows including Yesterday's News, with It Doesn't Bother Me first played on 12 July 2023.

The Distractions could refer to two current bands

The band was originally formed in 1975 by college friends Mike Finney (vocals) and Steve Perrin (guitar),[1] alongside Lawrence Tickle (bass) and Tony Trap (drums).[2] The band changed tack with the advent of punk in 1977 and Finney and Perrin recruited a new line-up of Pip Nicholls (bass), Adrian Wright (guitar), and Alec Sidebottom (drums, formerly of The Purple Gang), now mixing punk rock with sixties influences.[1][3] They shared bills with the likes of Buzzcocks, Magazine and Joy Division, and their debut EP, You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That, released in 1979, led to a deal with Factory Records, who released the follow-up, "Time Goes By So Slow".[3][4] In a 1979 newsletter, Tony Wilson described the band: "Reminds the management of AustinTexas 66, but take your choice".[5] The band had already signed a deal with Island Records in September 1979, before the Factory single was released, according to Wilson "due to irresistible desire to play the game".[5] An album and a few more singles followed, but the band failed to break into the top 40 despite favourable reviews.[6] Shortly after the album's release Perrin quit the band to be replaced by former Ludus guitarist, Arthur Kadmon. The group disbanded in 1981.[1][3] Before their end, the band included another latter member, Debbie Shure.[7]

Finney went on to work with the Secret Seven and the Art of Noise. Kadmon played briefly with The Fall and later went to work in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, who released a sole single in 1987. Pip Nicholls went to play drums in Glass Animals, alongside Miaow singer Cath Carroll.[8] Sidebottom leads the Republic of Swing samba band.

In January 2010, The Distractions official website was launched. Later in 2010 the band decided to release their first material in nearly thirty years in the form of the Black Velvet EP on Occultation Recordings. The EP comprised three tracks that were recorded in the mid 1990s during a brief reformation, which also saw them play a few gigs in Manchester and Liverpool. The Black Velvet digital download EP was launched on 13 September 2010 with the download and a limited number of CD promos being offered by Occultation.

Perrin and Finney were back in the studio in June 2010 to record new material for a 12" vinyl EP, Come Home featuring "Lost", "Nicole" and "Oil Painting". Come Home is expected to be released in November 2010, and a compilation album of The Distractions' TJM, Factory Records and mid 1990s material entitled Nothing will be released on CD in 2011.

The Distractions are an American punk band from Western Connecticut that was formed in 2008. The band consists of three high school musicians: Scott Obernier (Guitar/Vocals), Matt Kirby (Bass/Vocals), and Oli Smith (Drums). The band released their first Studio LP in 2013 called "Citizens for Sale."