Manic Street Preachers: A look at a unique career

Manic Street Preachers remain one of Britain’s best-loved and most literate rock bands. Unafraid to court controversy and with 13 albums and a string of anthemic hit singles to their name, the band have attained a status that verges on national treasure.

Following the announcement of their 14th studio album ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’, along with 2021 tour dates, let’s have a look at what makes this unique band so special…

WATCH: Manic Street Preachers live at Absolute Radio's 10th birthday gig

Who are Manic Street Preachers?

Thirty years on since unleashing their ‘New Art Riot EP’, Manic Street Preachers remain one of the most idiosyncratic bands to have emerged from these shores.

Fusing the punk rock sensibilities of The Clash with the ramalama of Guns N’Roses, Manic Street Preachers arrived in glam clothing, eye-liner and feather boas and yelling political slogans right at the point when the musical sensibilities of the nation were driven by baggy, loved-up vibes and shoegazing introspection. As much a glorious contradiction as much as a band, it would be something of understatement to say that they were out of step with the times.

Or were they? Their driving hard rock, left-wing political rhetoric and media savvy posturing soon found a hardcore and dedicated audience. Here was a band divided into two internal factions – singer/guitarist James Dean Bradfield and drummer Sean Moore wrote the music, while bassist Nicky Wire and guitarist Rickey Edwards wrote the lyrics and sold the band – and one that promised to sell 16m copies of their 1992 debut album, ‘Generation Terrorists’ and then promptly split up.

They didn’t on either count. Instead, they released two further albums – ‘Gold Against The Soul’ (1993) and the harrowing ‘The Holy Bible’ – before fate dealt them a bitter hand with the disappearance of Richey Edwards. Re-emerging as trio, Manic Street Preachers released ‘Everything Must Go’ (1996), the album that saw them go overground.

Since then, Manic Street Preachers have released a further 10 albums including ‘Send Away The Tiger’ (2007), ‘Postcards From A Young Man’ (2010) and ‘Resistance Is Futile’ (2018) while evolving into one of Britain’s most intelligent rock bands.

Where are Manic Street Preachers from?

Manic Street Preachers formed in Blackwood, South Wales, in 1986. They were joined by Richey Edwards shortly after the release of their debut single, ‘Suicide Alley’, in 1988.

Signing to independent label Damaged Goods in 1990, they released the four-track ‘New Art Riot EP’. Moving to Heavenly Records, their next single was the classic ‘Motown Junk’.

NOW WATCH: James Dean Bradfield - "Some of Manics' demos are just awful!"

What genre are Manic Street Preachers?

As evidenced by their first two albums, ‘Generation Terrorists’ and ‘Gold Against The Soul’, Manic Street Preachers played heavy rock that was influenced in equal parts by punk bands such as The Clash and heavy metal titans Guns N’Roses. Indeed, singles such as ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ and ‘From Despair To Where’ have become staples of the classic rock genre as much as the records that influenced them.

Their next album, 1994’s ‘The Holy Bible’, found Manic Street Preachers eschewing American rock influences and turned to post-punk bands such as Joy Division, PiL and Siouxsie And The Banshees for inspiration. A particularly heavy listen, its themes of human suffering and misery found comparisons to Nirvana’s swan song, ‘In Utero’.

Since then, Manic Street Preachers have veered from punk (‘The Masses Against The Classes’), acoustic rock (‘Ocean Spray’), melodic meditations (‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next)’ and fist-pumping anthems (‘International Blue’).

What happened to Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards?

Always a complicated character, Richey Edwards was very much seen as the driving force and conscience of Manic Street Preachers. His literate lyrics frequently focused on political issues as well as themes of despair, alienation and loneliness.

In a notorious 1991 incident following a gig at the Norwich Arts Centre, Richey Edwards responded to music journalist Steve Lamacq’s questioning of the band’s seriousness by carving ‘4 Real’ with a razor blade into his left arm.

Suffering from depression, alcohol abuse and anorexia, Edwards was also self-harming. Following the release of ‘The Holy Bible’, he checked into The Priory psychiatric hospital. After being discharged, he played his last gig with Manic Street Preachers on 21 December 1994, where the band smashed up all their gear onstage.

He disappeared on 1 February 1995 from the London hotel he and James Dean Bradfield were staying at. They were due to fly to the US for a promotional tour that day. He was never seen again.

He was declared officially “presumed dead” in 2008.

NOW WATCH: Manic Street Preachers Interview ahead of gig at 100 Club

What was Manic Street Preachers’ last hit of the 1990s?

Taken from their fifth album, ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’, ‘Tsunami’ was the band’s last hit of the 1990s and it peaked at No. 11 in the UK singles chart. The first hit of the new millennium was ‘The Masses Against The Classes’, which was released as limited edition, stand-alone single and deleted on the same day. And it still managed to top the charts and, in the process, became the first new No.1 in 2000.

Have Manic Street Preachers won any awards?

It’s fair to say that Manic Street Preachers’ collective mantelpiece is groaning under the strain of awards. They’ve won four BRIT Awards (Best Album for ‘Everything Must Go’ and ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’ and Best Group in 1997 and 1998), nine NME awards including the Godlike Genius gong, and eight Q Awards including Best Live Act (2001), Best Video (‘Show Me The Wonder’) and the coveted Inspiration Award (2017).

NOW WATCH: Manic Street Preachers - "I didn't expect to be in a mortgage with my bandmates at 48!"

How much are Manic Street Preachers worth?

Manic Street Preachers have topped the UK singles charts on two occasions (‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ and ‘The Masses Against The Classes’) and their albums have sold more than 10m copies worldwide. In terms of worth, just think of gold against the soul (see what we did there?).

Did Manic Street Preachers tour in 2020?

Manic Street Preachers were set to support The Killers at three shows on their Imploding the Mirage Tour in summer 2020 – the dates, however, have been rescheduled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Later in the summer of 2020, Manic Street Preachers were to play Victorious Festival at Southsea Seafront in Portsmouth on Saturday 29th August. This was unfortunately cancelled as well.

The group was set to play two huge concerts at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in the run-up to Christmas 2020, with free entrance for all NHS workers, as a thank you for their brave work during the pandemic. Sadly, this had to be rescheduled to July 2021, with James Dean Bradfield telling NME, "We will play those gigs eventually, whatever happens."

Will Manic Street Preachers tour in 2021?

Yes. Following the exciting announcement of their 14th studio album 'The Ultra Vivid Lament’, Manic Street Preachers also announced a headline UK tour for later this year.

The album is set for release on Friday 3rd September, then the band will embark on a headline UK tour throughout September and October. Rounding up the tour, they will play a huge one-off show at London’s The SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday 3rd December 2021.

Scroll through to see some of our favourite live moments from Manic Street Preachers:

WATCH: Manic Street Preachers - Absolute Radio stripped-back studio session

You can hear all of Manic Street Preachers' biggest hits on the Absolute Radio Playlist!

Now read:

Manic Street Preachers announce two huge NHS concerts

Watch Pete Doherty cover Manic Street Preachers' 'Motorcycle Emptiness'

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