Manic Street Preachers Artist Biography

With eleven albums over twenty four years, Manic Street Preachers are one of the most prominent bands ever to emerge from the alternative rock genre. Forming in Blackwood, a small town in South Wales in 1989, their impact both musically and culturally has been huge: inspiring a generation to engage themselves into the political and social scene around them, as well as rebelling against society’s expectations. Manic Street Preachers arrival into the music scene was at a time where grunge and house music was dominating the airwaves, but their unique and overwhelming presence enabled them to be successful and gain an almost cult-like following.

Described by music journalist John Doran as "antagonising nearly everyone they came across with their fiercely anti-fashion stance", it’s no secret that the Manic Street Preachers aren't the most approachable band in the world. However, their truthful and blunt lyrics have reached out to generations of music fans. The lyrical context of one of their most popular songs, ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’, is about the Spanish Civil War; hardly something that you’d expect to become number one in 1998. Their unpredictability and raw passion are some of Manic Street Preacher’s most unique factors and due to this it would be almost impossible to compare them to another band.

Wherever rock music is concerned there’s always controversy: something that the Manic Street Preachers aren’t shy of. The angst-filled Welsh rockers have no problem addressing their strong and sometimes almost offensive opinions on anything from pop music to world politics. Described by NME as ‘generation terrorists’, Manic Street Preachers were able to cause uproar for the BBC in 1994 by getting a staggering 26,435 complaints about lead singer James wearing an IRA-style balaclava on Top of the Pops, which was also repeated at Glastonbury the same year. It also goes without saying that Richey Edward’s disappearance in 1995 is something which to this day still mystifies both fans and music lovers around the world.

Despite the controversial issues surrounding them, Manic Street Preachers have a loyal and dedicated fan base, so much so that they have just announced an eleven date UK tour for 2014. Even though they aren't gaining the media coverage that they used to in the nineties, Manic Street Preachers will continue to sell-out arenas and headline festivals until they disband and their contribution to the rock music scene will never be forgotten.