Brief history, recent news and links for the Manic Street Preachers.
The Manic Street Preachers have had a successful career since 1992 which saw the release of their debut double LP "Generation Terrorists" This was followed the next year by the "Gold Against the Soul" album, and in 1994 by "The Holy Bible" album. All of these were excellent records.
On February 1st 1995, Richey Edwards, guitarist and more importantly a lyricist for the band disappeared. This event has been reported and covered dozens of times since. There have been no positive sightings of him since his disappearance, and it is not known if he is alive or dead. The 3 remaining band members, James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore understandably took a lengthy break to deal with this and had all our respect and sympathy.
They returned, as a 3 piece, gradually, first contributing a version of "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" to the "Help" album in September 1995. They then made a full return in spring '96 with their 4th, and greatest yet, album, "Everything Must Go". This was preceded by the "Design For Life" single which entered the UK chart at number 2, as did the LP in the album chart on its release.
At the tail end of July, the single "Everything Must Go", taken from the LP, was released, later than originally planned due to delays shooting the video, and went straight into the UK chart at number 5.
"Kevin Carter", the third single from the album, was released in England on Sept. 30th. It entered the charts
at number 9. The record features a track "Sepia" on the b-side, the lyrics for which
are said to be a message to Richey. According to Nicky Wire "basically it says `we miss you'".
For those of you interested in reading a little more of Kevin Carters story try
The Life and Death of Kevin Carter
and for a glimse of his famous Time magazine photograph try
here.
A review of the Sheffield City Hall gig on October 14th '96 can be read here.
The final single to be taken from the "Everything Must Go" album was "Australia", released
on December 2nd '96. Instead of the usual set of new songs released on the CD, 3 cover versions
were recorded for the release. These are Primal Scream's "Velocity Girl", "Take the Skinheads Bowling" by
Camper Van Beethoven and Andy Williams' "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". The single entered the UK charts at number 7,
making an impressive total of four top ten singles from the album!
Kylie Minogue appeared onstage with the band at one of their recent London
shows, singing the female parts on "Little Baby Nothing". It has been
rumoured that the Manics plan to re-record the song with Kylie for inclusion
on a "Best Of" type package. The band had asked her to sing when
they originally recorded the song back in 1991 but she refused, opening
the door for Tracy Lords.
In January 808 State released the single "Lopez", which features lyrics
written by Nicky Wire and sung by James Dean Bradfield. On the 28th the NME Brat awards took place,
where the Manics won in the Best Album category for "Everything Must Go", Best Single category for
"Design for Life", and also the Best Live act award. At the Brit awards ceremony held on Monday 24th February
they performed "Design For Life" live and scooped awards in the Best British Album and
Best British Group categories. James dedicated the awards to Philip Hall and Richey Edwards.
News broke earlier this year of a reported sighting of Richey Edwards in a hippy street-market in
Goa, India.
Richey was reportedly seen by College Lecturer and Musician Vyvyan Morris when he visited Goa on November
6th 1996, though he has only recently seen fit to fully report the event. This sighting still remains
unconfirmed but police investigating Richey's disappearance are taking the information seriously. Richey's
family say they've heard a number of these rumours in the past and are waiting for police to check it out
before proceeding any further.
The 42nd Ivor Novello songwriting awards were held on the 29th of May with the
Manics collecting perhaps the most well respected award of "Best Contempory Song"
for "Design for Life".
James Dean Bradfield spent some time during '97 working with Kylie Minogue on her
new album, which was released towards the end of the year. The music for her single, "Some
Kind of Bliss" was co-written by James and Sean. A second song, "Don't Forget", from the
album also features music by James and Sean. James also co-produced the two tracks alongside
Dave Eringa.
Towards the end of September a live video of May's Manchester Nynex arena show, attended
by some 15000 people, was released. Titled "Everything Live" the tracklisting for the
video will be: "Everything Must Go", "Faster", "Kevin Carter", "La Tristesse Durera", "Roses
in the Hospital", "Elvis Impersonator", "Motown Junk", "Motorcycle Emptiness", "No Surface All
Feeling", "This is Yesterday", "Australia", "A Design for Life" and "You Love Us".
Recording of the new LP has finished, with around 20 songs completed. James
has told that reports that the sound of the LP was more like "The
Holy Bible" are completely wrong, saying "it's like something from our past, something from
our present and something from our future."
The release of the album will be accompanied by a BBC2 documentary about the band, made
with the Manics' concent and assistance and directed by Mike Connelly. It is the first time the
band has worked with the media in this way.
A set of 'intimate' concerts, as well as some larger shows are confirmed for August/September.
Dates are:
"If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" shot straight to the top of the UK singles chart
to become the Manics' first number 1 single, beating Steps into second place. The news was announced
from the main stage at the Reading Festival on Sunday evening to much rejoicing amongst
Manics' fans. No Steps fans were seen to give their reaction.
Their Reading performance in '97 went down pretty well. They played one new song in the set, a
'tortured ballad' called "Ready to Drown".
The first single, titled "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next", taken
from the new LP will be released on August 24th. Lyricist Nicky Wire wrote the song about
the Spanish civil war (one of his current fascinations) and has described it as his homage
to The Clash's "Spanish Bombs". B-sides for the single are currently being selected from
their newly recorded material. The video for the single was shot in London in early July
with director Wiz, who previously worked on "Everything Must Go" and "You Love Us".
The LP will be called "This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours" and is due for release on
September 14th. The Managing Director of Sony music (parent company to the Manics' label
Epic), Paul Burger has described the LP as "absolutely and without doubt the most important album
we'll release this year". 11 of the 13 tracks to be featured on the LP has been confirmed as:
"South Yorkshire Mass Murderer" - said to be about the Hillsborough football disaster, "Ready for Drowning"
- played live at Reading in 1997 , "You Stole the Sun", "The Everlasting", "Black Dog", "Tsunami",
"I'm Not Working", "You're Tender and You're Tired", "Born a Girl" - reminds me of Nirvana's "Been
a Son", though I expect it to be quite different, "Nobody Loved You" and "If You Tolerate This Your
Children Will Be Next".
The LP was recorded at the end of '97 and the beginning of '98 at Big Noise studio in
Wales, studios in England and Mike Hedges' studio in France. As well as Hedges producing, Gregg
Haver, who worked on "Everything Must Go", Dave Eringa - "Gold Against the Soul" and "Motown Junk"
- and Apollo 440's Howard Gray have also been at the controls. The album features a duet with Sophie
Ellis Bextor of Theaudience and is said to feature James playing a Sitar on one or more tracks.
Sophie has said that the track she worked on will most likely be a b-side to one of the singles, and
also revealed tha she was around the Manics' third choice vocalist for the track. Both Cerys from Catatonia
and Sharleen from Texas were hoped for, but were not so interested having both already done
duets recently. Keyboard player Nick Naysmith is now understood to be a more permenant member of
the band than simply having a touring role. It is not known if he is credited with any songwriting on
the new material.
August 28 Cork Opera House
August 29 Dublin Slane Castle (supporting The Verve)
August 30 Belfast Ulster Hall
September 15 Kettering Arena
September 16 Chester Northgate Arena
September 17 Bridlington Spa Royal Hall (a venue I can definitely recommend)
September 18 Dundee Caird Hall
September 20 Port Talbot Afon Lido
September 21 Stoke Trentham Gardens
September 22 Margate Winter Gardens
September 23 Hereford Leisure Centre
Tickets are expected to be around £14. A further tour is planned for December.
The only Manic Street Preachers info page you need.
Manic Street Preachers Image Gallery
The all new Official page
The Music Database: Manic Street Preachers
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