In July 2013, Clarke was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts in "acknowledgement of a career which has spanned five decades, bringing poetry to non-traditional audiences and influencing musicians and comedians" by the University of Salford. Upon receipt, Clarke commented: "Now I'm a doctor, finally my dream of opening a cosmetic surgery business can become a reality." His poem "I Wanna Be Yours" was adapted by Arctic Monkeys and frontman Alex Turner for the band's fifth album, "AM", released on 9 September 2013. On their 2020 eponymous debut album, English band Working Men’s Club pays homage to the poet in “John Cooper Clarke,” referencing his poem “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman" and book "The Luckiest Guy Alive".