I Predict a Riot

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

"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 the band'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.

"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)

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]

Live performances

"I Predict a Riot" 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".

Track listings

UK 7-inch single (2004) (BUN088-7)[7] A. "I Predict a Riot" B. "Take My Temperature" UK CD single (2004) (BUN088CD)[8] "I Predict a Riot" "Wrecking Ball" Australian CD single (2005) (9882095)[9] "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)[10][11] "I Predict a Riot" – 3:54 "Sink That Ship" – 2:38 UK CD2 (2005) (BUN096CDX)[12] "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)[13] 35 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 22 UK Indie (OCC)[15] 2 Chart (2005) Peak position Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)[16] 5 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[17] 17 Germany (GfK)[18] 79 Ireland (IRMA)[19] with "Sink That Ship" 25 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 74 Scotland (OCC)[21] with "Sink That Ship" 8 UK Singles (OCC)[22] with "Sink That Ship" 9 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23] 34

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position UK Singles (OCC)[24] 68 Chart (2006) Position UK Singles (OCC)[25] 121

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[26]	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	[27]
United States		31 January 2005	Alternative radio		[28]
		23 May 2005	Contemporary hit hot adult contemporary radio		[29]
Australia			CD		[30]
United Kingdom	"I Predict a Riot" / "Sink That Ship"	22 August 2005		B-Unique Polydor	[31]

In popular culture

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.^[32]

English professional darts player Luke Humphries uses the song as his walk-on music.^[33]