Arctic Monkeys’ eagerly-awaited third album Humbug is released on 24 August 2009 but it’s been nearly two and a half years since they released Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Recorded in East London's Miloco Studios with producers James Ford and Mike Crossey, the band's second album saw them move from (yawn) The MySpace Band into a genuinely credible UK rock band.

In its first week on sale, the album sold over 220,000 copies and went straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart - 100,000 fewer sales than their much-hyped debut but a pointer towards a genuine, sustainable future and still outselling the rest of the Top 20 combined.

So what's been happening since April 2007? Well, after you've conquered your own country, it's time to get your passport renewed and get out on the road…

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