Man on Arctic Monkeys' iconic album cover returns for new World Cup song

20 years since his inebriated mush launched the world's greatest rock band, Chris McClure has returned to the spotlight with a FIFA World Cup song of all things.

Famed for appearing on the cover of Arctic Monkeys' debut studio album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, which is still the fastest-selling album of all-time, McClure goes about his business these days as carer for disabled adults.

On the side, he's also found an audience on TikTok thanks to clips of him as the fictional personalty Steve Bracknall, manager of Sunday League football club Royal Oak FC.

So it's slightly surprising to learn that he's teamed up with Sports Direct and Reverend and the Makers for their re-recording of 'Silence is Talking' just in time for this summer's world-stopping tournament across the pond.

The indie rock band, which is fronted by McClure's brother Jon, announced via Instagram today: "You may have noticed that we've re recorded our classic silence is talking from the second album in time for @stevebracknall to go tear up the World Cup with @sportsdirectfootball.

"Don't worry it's the same lyrics and no John Barnes rap but you can hear it across their World Cup campaign this summer. BOSH."

'Silence is Talking' was the first single released from Reverend and the Makers' second studio album back in 2009; A French Kiss in the Chaos.

The Monkeys-associated McClure appears in an England football top holding a ball on the new cover artwork.

As for how McClure originally got involved with the iconic 2006 album cover, it was previously revealed that the likes of Alex Turner and Matt Helders wanted to capture a real night-out vibe.

While appearing on the Northern Chorus podcast, the cover star said: "We took some [photos] in Sheffield at around five in the morning and then we went to Liverpool. While we were there, the guy asked me to just pose for a portrait photo with a cigarette, but there was no mention of it being a cover.

"I thought that was job done but then I got a call off Andy Nicholson who was bass player at the time. He said, 'The band have seen this image, they like it but we want it to be authentic. Would you be happy for us to pay for you to have a day out, and then we can recreate the image?'".

McClure was then handed £700 to paint the town red with.

"I had three friends with me and I was told not to come back to the bar until every penny was spent," he further recounted. "So you can imagine the day I had. I rolled back into the venue at around 11. I essentially had a joint and I was taken downstairs.

"By that point, my world had turned upside down and I was thinking 'Get me out'. I woke up in Manchester and they rang me up and said 'We've got it, we want it to be the front cover'."