Rooney were a British DIY band that released three albums between 1998 and 2000, including the debut album Time on Their Hands which received much support from John Peel, who booked them for a session in 1999.

[3][4] The lo-fi music incorporated sometimes humorous — but often unsettling — spoken-sung lyrics describing everyday, mundane activities and observations, an approach which was consistent across all Rooney releases.

[6][7] The album was widely and favourably reviewed, including notices by Stewart Lee in The Sunday Times,[8] Tom Ridge of The Wire[9] and Gary Valentine of Mojo.

[3] By 1999 Rooney became a band with new members Colin Cromer and Ian Jackson.

[18] In 2006 comedian and writer Stewart Lee curated the Rooney track Into the Lens for the CD/book The Topography of Chance, which also included Mark E Smith, Derek Bailey and Simon Munnery.