The first time I heard Manic Street Preachers was through This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours. It was the late ’90s, and “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” was everywhere—a sweeping anthem , with lyrics citing the Spanish Civil War and the fight against fascism. It wasn't the sort of thing you heard on the radio which meant it was interesting, and thinking about political events today, it is as relevant as ever. With a killer opening track "Everlasting" the album drew me in with its dense production and introspective lyricism, a stark contrast to the band’s earlier, more aggressive work. This was just one chapter in the Manics’ remarkable career. Across three decades, they’ve crafted some great records, from the popular peak of Everything Must Go to the retro sounding Lifeblood to the "kraut rock" inspired Futurology and just last month we have the outstanding Critical Thinking. For me, they’ve been a band that delivers one great album per decade, always balancing musical virtuosity with politically charged lyrics.
The follow up to This Is Truth My Truth , Know Your Enemy (2001) reaffirmed their political convictions. The album was a raw, uncompromising statement, and rather than promoting it with a standard tour, the Manics took it to Cuba. Their 2001 concert in Havana was attended by none other than Fidel Castro himself. A documentary captured the event, showing the band navigating the complexities of performing in a country still held in contempt by the West. This wasn’t just a publicity stunt; it was a reflection of the Manics’ deep engagement with global politics. Their work has always been about more than music; it’s about challenging narratives, questioning authority, and using their platform to highlight uncomfortable truths.
A key part of the Manic Street Preachers' longevity is the bond between its three core members: James Dean Bradfield (guitar/vocals), Sean Moore (drums), and Nicky Wire (nee Jones) (bass,vocals). Now all in their mid -late fifties , the band’s origins trace back to Blackwood, Wales, where childhood friends Bradfield and Moore (cousins, in fact), first began making music together. Jones/Wire, equally drawn to music and literature, joined them, and with the later addition of Richey Edwards, the Manics were born, releasing the first album Generation Terrorists in 1992.
Edwards literally went missing, presumed drowned in 1995, despite this the three have remained tight, maintaining not only their creative partnership but also their friendship. Bradfield, the sole guitarist is the one member on which the musical tone remains dependant , and he has also released solo albums showcasing his virtuoso guitar work (see his extensive guitar and amp line up below) and powerful vocals. Bradfield could only be Welsh with a voice as powerful as his. Wire has put out his own records , and Moore, ever the enigmatic drummer, has occasionally stepped into composing.
Following Lifeblood in 2004 , they released Forever Delayed a year later , a greatest hits compilation that could have easily marked the end of an era. Yet 20 years later, they go on , still recording and releasing new albums with remarkable consistency.
What’s even more striking is their lack of interest in breaking America. Unlike bands of their stature who have chased success in the U.S. with relentless touring and promotional campaigns, the Manics have largely ignored that route. Whether by choice or circumstance, they’ve remained a distinctly British and European phenomenon, their music steeped in cultural and political references that resonate most in those regions. Perhaps their intellectual lyricism, never quite aligned with mainstream American rock tastes. Or maybe, as with much of their career, they simply preferred to forge their own path rather than follow industry expectations. For their latest sold out British tour they have deliberately scheduled shows over weekends refusing the rigour of a regular tour.
With the latest album Critical Thinking the Manics balance the vocal prowess of Bradfield alongside vocal contributions by Nicky Wire. Never a great singer the band knows where to place his songs as a contrast to the power of Bradfield , the most pivotal being the opening title track where Wire rants against the current state of things in 2025.
We hurtle down the avalanche
To the cul-de-sac of a non-descript nowhere land
What happened to your Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking (2025)
It paves the way nicely for the anthemic "Decline & Fall" where the band delivers all their signature elements; a huge chorus over a propulsive beat , all with an eye for the stadium audience and to be played loud.
The decline and fall
Divide and dissolve
The dry stone walls
A beauty that calls
Decline and Fall (2025)
The album never lets up with key track "Dear Stephen" located halfway through. With a nod to "1985" from Lifeblood , ("Morrissey and Marr gave us life in 1985") , the Manics implore the now erratic and wayward Smiths former frontman (Stephen) Morrissey to "please come back to us" , peppering the track with Smiths lyrics quotes and Bradfield building guitar tracks in the best Johnny Marr tradition.
Its so easy to hate , it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines
Dear Stephen (2025)
It acknowledges that these guys were very much of the eighties with the likes of The Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen as key influences ( Bradfield has also cited the Sex Pistols , in particular guitarist Steve Jones (complete with white Gibson Les Paul ), which accounts for their punk ethic).
Where the streaming era has made longevity and loyalty more elusive than ever, the Manic Street Preachers have kept going. Witness their upcoming UK tour this April being completely sold out - three decades on, they remain as vital as ever. Perhaps that’s the real legacy of the Manic Street Preachers, not just the music, the politics, or the evolution, but the sheer persistence of three musicians who refuse to fade away. As Keith Richards once said , which a subsequent band biography utilised in the title, "There is the Sun and Moon and The Rolling Stones" - the latter phrase could be replaced by The Manic Street Preachers. Give Critical Thinking a listen, it's an early contender for 2025 "Best Of" lists.
#manicstreetpreachers #thisismytruthtellmeyours #knowyouenemy #lifeblood #futurology #criticalthinking #jamesdeanbradfield #nickywire #seanmoore
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