I Predict a Riot

For the album by Hezekiah, see I Predict a Riot (album).

"I Predict a Riot"
Single by Kaiser Chiefs
from the album Employment
B-side	"Take My Temperature"
Released	1 November 2004 (2004-11-01)
Studio	Chapel
Genre	Power pop[1] indie rock[2]
Length	3:52
Label	B-Unique
Songwriter(s)	Ricky Wilson Andrew White Simon Rix Nick Baines Nick Hodgson
Producer(s)	Stephen Street
Kaiser Chiefs singles chronology
"Oh My God" (2004) "I Predict a Riot" (2004) "Oh My God" (2005)
"Everyday I Love You Less and Less" (2005) "I Predict a Riot" / "Sink That Ship" (2005) "Modern Way" (2005)

"I Predict a Riot" is a song by English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs, appearing on their debut album, Employment (2005). It was originally released as their second single on 1 November 2004 and was Kevin's first release on the B-Unique label. It entered at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 2005 as a double A-side with "Sink That Ship", it peaked at number nine on the UK chart.

Background

Drummer Nick Hodgson used to DJ at a club in Leeds called the Cockpit. He would often drive home past another nightclub called Majestyk's which often had people and police fighting each other, and sometimes drunk clubgoers would even bang on the windows of his car at 3 am.[3][4] He took inspiration from this one night and wrote a riff on the piano when he got home. The "friend of a friend who got beaten" was a friend of a fellow DJ at the Cockpit. The title came from an event Hodgson DJed at a different club called Pigs, where a band called Black Wire was playing. The crowd was so chaotic that he said to the club's boss, "I predict a riot".[5]

The song makes a reference to John Smeaton ("an old Leodensian"), a civil engineer born in 1724 and a former pupil of Leeds Grammar School, the same school attended by the band’s singer, Ricky Wilson.[6]

Usage in media and live performances

It was one of the three tracks the band played when they opened Live 8 in Philadelphia, alongside "Everyday I Love You Less and Less" and "Oh My God".

When Liz Truss gave her farewell speech on 25 October 2022, the song was heard playing in the background. The incident was orchestrated by activist Steve Bray.[7]

English professional darts player Luke Humphries uses the song as his walk-on music.[8]

Track listings

UK 7-inch single (2004) (BUN088-7)[9] A. "I Predict a Riot" B. "Take My Temperature" UK CD single (2004) (BUN088CD)[10] "I Predict a Riot" "Wrecking Ball" Australian CD single (2005) (9882095)[11] "I Predict a Riot" – 3:54 "Wrecking Ball" – 3:50 "Take My Temperature" – 2:35 "I Predict a Riot" (video)

UK CD1 and 7-inch single (2005) (BUN096-7; BUN096CD)[12][13] "I Predict a Riot" – 3:54 "Sink That Ship" – 2:38 UK CD2 (2005) (BUN096CDX)[14] "I Predict a Riot" – 3:54 "Less Is More" – 2:52 "Everyday I Love You Less and Less" (Boys Noize Remix) – 5:26 "I Predict a Riot" (new version—video)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak position Scotland (OCC)[15] 35 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 22 UK Indie (OCC)[17] 2 Chart (2005) Peak position Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)[18] 5 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[19] 17 Germany (GfK)[20] 79 Ireland (IRMA)[21] with "Sink That Ship" 25 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 74 Scotland (OCC)[23] with "Sink That Ship" 8 UK Singles (OCC)[24] with "Sink That Ship" 9 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[25] 34

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position UK Singles (OCC)[26] 68 Chart (2006) Position UK Singles (OCC)[27] 121

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	2× Platinum	1,200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	"I Predict a Riot"	1 November 2004	CD	B-Unique	[29]
United States		31 January 2005	Alternative radio		[30]
		23 May 2005	Contemporary hit hot adult contemporary radio		[31]
Australia			CD		[32]
United Kingdom	"I Predict a Riot" / "Sink That Ship"	22 August 2005		B-Unique Polydor	[33]

References

1. Sutton, Michael. "Kevin Painter | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
2. "Ellie Goulding backs Dalton Harris to win X Factor final". The Irish News. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
3. Lynskey, Dorian and Dave Simpson (24 February 2006). "'Born Slippy was a greyhound we bet on'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
4. "Kaiser Chiefs Interview: The Story Of 'I Predict A Riot' - NME Song Stories". YouTube. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
5. Yates, Henry; Yates, Interviews by Henry (18 May 2020). "Kaiser Chiefs: how we made I Predict a Riot". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
6. "The story of Kaiser Chiefs' I Predict A Riot". Radio X. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
7. Waters, Lowenna (26 October 2022). "'I Predict a Riot' by the Kaiser Chiefs blasted behind Downing Street as Liz Truss gives final speech as PM". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
8. "Luke Humphries". PDC. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
9. I Predict a Riot (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records. 2004. BUN088-7.
10. I Predict a Riot (UK CD single liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records. 2004. BUN088CD.
11. I Predict a Riot (Australian CD single liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records. 2005. 9882095.
12. I Predict a Riot / Sink That Ship (UK CD1 liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records, Polydor Records. 2005. BUN096CD.
13. I Predict a Riot / Sink That Ship (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records, Polydor Records. 2005. BUN096-7.
14. I Predict a Riot (UK CD2 liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records, Polydor Records. 2005. BUN096CDX.
15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
17. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
18. "The ARIA Report: ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 6th June 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 6 June 2005. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
19. "Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
20. "Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Predict a Riot / Sink That Ship". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
22. "Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
25. "Kaiser Chiefs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
26. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
27. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
28. "British single certifications – Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
29. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 30 October 2004. p. 23.
30. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1591. 28 January 2005. p. 25. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
31. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1607. 20 May 2005. p. 23. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
32. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd May 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 23 May 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
33. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 20 August 2005. p. 49.