Arctic Monkeys stormed into the American Top Ten yesterday, confirming a revival of interest in new British music across the Atlantic.

Favourite Worst Nightmare, the Sheffield band’s second album, entered the Billboard 200 at No 7, matching the performance of Amy Winehouse earlier this year. Their Brian-storm track entered the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart at No 1. The first album of Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not sold 305,000 copies in the US, peaking at No 24.

Nightmare sold 44,000 copies last week and is expected to surpass its predecessor. Domino, the band’s record company, described the new album as “a more American-friendly record”.

The quartet are currently touring in America. They were star attractions last weekend at a festival in California which also featured Winehouse and Lily Allen. Figures released this week showed that 8.1 per cent of albums sold in the US last year were by British artists, an improvement on the dire performance in previous years.

KT Tunstall, Snow Patrol and Joss Stone boosted the figures, although veteran names such as Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles remain big sellers.

American critics are sceptical about the chances of long-term success for Arctic Monkeys. British bands have been reluctant to tour extensively.

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