Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers (often referred to as the Manics) are an alternative rock band from Blackwood, Wales, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield (vocals, guitars), Nicky Wire (bass, occasional vocals) and Sean Moore (drums, backing vocals, occasional trumpet). The band is part of the Cardiff music scene. Their biggest success was during the 1990s.

The band were originally a four piece band: lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards mysteriously vanished on 1 February 1995.BBC Wales, "Manic Street Preachers - Richey Edwards",BBC Wales In November 2008, 13 years after his disappearance, he was officially declared presumed dead.Evans, "Missing Manic Street Preacher",Western Mail

The Manics released their debut album Generation Terrorists in 1992.Manics NL, "Generation Terrorists " Their combination of androgynous glam punk imagery, outspoken
invective and songs about "culture, alienation, boredom and despair" soon gained them a loyal following and cult status.Owen, Paul, "The Manics' Lyrics Were Something Special",The Guardian, 27 Nov 2008Clash Music, "Manics Member Officially Dead", Clash MusicBBC Wales Music, "Manic Street Preachers ", BBC Wales The band's later albums kept a politicized and smart lyrical style. They also adopted a broader alternative rock sound.Independent, "Final Farewell For A Cult Hero " Enigmatic lyricist Richey Edwards gained early notoriety by carving the words "4 REAL" into his arm with a razor blade (narrowly missing an artery and requiring seventeen stitches) in response to the suggestion that the band were less than authentic.BBC Wales Music, "Manic Street Preachers - Richey Edwards", BBC Wales The dark nature of 1994's The Holy Bible showed the result of Edwards' instability.

Following Edwards' disappearance, Bradfield, Moore, and Wire kept with the Manic Street Preachers and went on to gain critical and commercial success. They became one of Britain's top rock bands.BBC News, "From Despair to Success ", BBC News They have had eight top ten albums and fifteen top ten singles. They have reached number one three times, with their 1998 album This Is My Truth Tell Me YoursEveryHit, "Number One Albums - 1990s" and the singles "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" (1998)EveryHit, "Number One Singles - 1990s" and "The Masses Against The Classes" (2000).EveryHit, "Number One Singles - 2000s" They have also won the Best British Album and Best British Group accolades at the BRIT Awards in 1997 and 1999, and were lauded by the NME for their lifetime achievements in 2008.BBC News, "Manics named 'godlike geniuses' ", BBC News Their ninth studio album, Journal For Plague Lovers, was released on 18 May 2009 and features lyrics Edwards had left behind to the band weeks before his disappearance.New Manics album - The Fly.co.uk, ""
In 2010 their tenth album Postcards from a Young Man was released. Their eleventh album Rewind the Film was released on 16 September 2013. Their next album Futurology is going to be released in 2014.

References

Other websites





Category:1986 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:1980s British music groups
Category:1990s British music groups
Category:2000s British music groups
Category:2010s British music groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1986
Category:Welsh rock bands
Category:20th-century establishments in Wales