Firstly, a few facts:
- Each year in the UK, the Met Office provides meteorologists with a list of names they can use for severe storms. Their reasoning is that calling a storm Franklin or Gertrude is far more memorable than Amorphous Mass Of Damp Air #15,045, and having that kind of centralised naming convention helps everyone keep track of what’s going on in the sky;
- In 2007, Arctic Monkeys released Brianstorm, the juddery first single from their sophomore album Favourite Worst Nightmare;
- Ten years later, the Met Office has officially deemed the next storm worthy of naming will be given the moniker… Brian.
You can probably see where we’re going with this one now.
In the week since the Met Office dropped their new list, which also includes citizen-suggested names like Larry, Octavia, and Winifred, fans of the indie rock juggernauts have realised they’re in for a real-life Brianstorm (Storm Aileen is just wrapping up).
Seeing their breathless posts, one wonders when Britons have ever been so excited about yet another block of pelting rain: references to the tune’s sketchily-dressed main character abound, along with general adoration for Alex Turner’s gang and their frenetic tune.
Ten years after the Arctic Monkeys predicted it Brianstorm is finally happening pic.twitter.com/mqRBiLmRIg
— Brian 🐀 (@BriBriOnTour) September 6, 2017
if you don’t wear a t-shirt and tie combination on the day that brianstorm comes then we cannot be friends pic.twitter.com/LNBqhc7l7f
— ross buchanan (@rossy) September 13, 2017
The next UK storm is called Brian 😂😂😂😂 brianstorm!! pic.twitter.com/iiqiTbtonq
— CJ (@cj87EFC) September 13, 2017
There is ACTUALLY going to be a Brianstorm. 10 years after the arctic monkeys predicted it. Everybody stay calm, collected and commanding ⛈️
— Stephen Collins (@stevo_collins) September 13, 2017
When the next storm will be named #Brian… Top marks to the Met Office for not trying… #arcticmonkeys #brianstorm
— Chris Fernandez (@C4Fernandez) September 13, 2017
The band has been fine-tuning their follow-up to the 2013 smash AM, and some fans have attached some mystical significance to the impending Brianstorm because of it.
if arctic monkeys don’t release their album during brianstorm that’s a missed opportunity
— abi x (@abiw00dhouse) September 13, 2017
As for confirmation on dates for the new LP, well… We’ll see you later, innovators.
