This is why

I adore The Wire- he's just a big cross-dressing fanboy...

Nicky Wire, Manic Street Preachers

Patience, Take That

This is not an ironic choice. It's the greatest comeback single in history. If Neil Young had written it, people would be calling it a masterpiece. I've always liked Take That, too. They looked so brilliant back in the day and did everything right, but this is something else. It's got such a dark lyric: "My heart is numb, has no feeling/ So while I'm healing/ Just try and have a little patience". There's also a maturity about it that suits the boys all grown-up. Gary Barlow is a genius; I won't have anyone argue against him. When Alex Turner slagged off Take That at the 2006 Q awards for getting an award, I nearly lost it. James [Dean Bradfield from the Manics] was grabbing me by the arm, saying: "Don't lose it, Nicky." You get so many alternative bands banging on about how to make perfect pop, and this kicks all their arses.

I know

he's been missing since 1995, but this still makes me sad.

Missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards has been declared as presumed dead, a band spokeswoman confirmed yesterday.

The Welsh musician disappeared 13 years ago, at the age of 27. Despite alleged sightings across the world, many believe Edwards, whose car was found near the Severn Bridge, took his own life.

His parents Graham and Sherry Edwards have now been granted a court order for him to be declared presumed dead, Manic Street Preachers publicist Terri Hall said today.

'From Despair To Where'- Manic Street Preachers

1. Sean's gloves. Cool.
2. Nicky's sunnies. Cool as hell.
3. Richey is beautiful. Full stop.
4. James. My Lord. Is un-BELIVEABLE.

Holy amazing gig, Batman!

Manic Street Preachers and Doves at the Heavenly Records birthday celebration.

As the Manic Street Preachers throttle to the end of Starlover for only the second time in 19 years, bassist Nicky Wire issues a grinning disclaimer. "You can tell that me and Richey were 19 when we wrote those lyrics. You have to make a fool of yourself when you're young." Starlover was one of six tracks the band recorded for Heavenly in 1990. Two others, Motown Junk and You Love Us, were immeasurably better: musical paintbombs consisting of Clash riffs, Guns N' Roses solos, Public Enemy samples and absurdly pugnacious rhetoric, as electrifying now as they were then.

...

Even when the lyrics are streaked with melancholy, the Motown-flavoured Black and White Town and rave-minded new song Jetstream have the exultant velocity of piano-house anthems, and There Goes the Fear sweeps the hall to its feet, all the way up to the balcony, in a spirit of celebration and camaraderie that seems distinctly Heavenly.

I love him.

Mr. Nicky Wire...

I had this vicious, bordering on violent argument on the bus the other day with James and Sean. I was making the point that every genre that ever existed in cinema has been done better by TV now. “Godfather” against “Sopranos” – “Sopranos” wins hands down. “American Gangster” vs “The Wire”? No competition. Comedy there’s no competition. Who wants to watch comedy in films these days? The last great comedy movie I can remember was “Midnight Run”. One of my favourite films and also one of Ian McCulloch’s. War stuff, much better documentaries. Musicals? “Blackpool” was really good. It was a deeply flawed argument, I nearly won it through sheer force of will. It really was fucking hard work though... as usual it was a mixture of me talking bollocks with a small element of truth.

Bless

It *is* "a pop song." And the Manics cover version is so good...

The trio then shortly followed with limited edition single 'The Masses Against The Classes' before Bradfield introduced a cover of Rhianna's 'Umbrella' saying, "This is a pop song. It's Mr Nicky Wires favourite tune of 2007."

I'd like to ask

if this pup, Nicky, the Wire Fox Terrier-

is named after this Nicky Wire*-

but am afraid of being laughed at. C'est la vie.

*though the puppy is lacking eyeliner, miniskirt and a feather boa, bless.

So cool

Ah, the Stones in 1969. In California. Surely nothing horrid could happen...

(and sadly, I initially thought, "why is Richey Edwards in a picture with a young Charlie Watts?")

Awwww

the bit where the girl is putting the eyeliner on...

I betcha

this is the eyeliner (in 'Baked') The Wire had on last night. Bless his glammy little heart.

Another one

of my bass-playing "boyfriends," Mr. Nicholas (Jones) Wire. I swear to y'all, I liked guitar-guitar players not but a year ago... Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

"That was the one I turned up for! It was between me and Patrick Wolf!"

Oh, Nicky....

There are times

when cover versions actually surpass the original tune. I believe this may be one of those times.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 'Umbrella' by the Manic Street Preachers.


via

"Young, beautiful scum pissed off at the world."

In this week's NME, a huge interview about Richey Edwards with my beloved Nicky Wire. Absolutely heartbreaking.

My, they were so very pretty.

Things that amuse me

Part of an ongoing series....

-talking to one of my Republican brothers on the phone while listening to the Manics singing 'The Masses Against The Classes.' Hee hee.

Oh HELL yes!

Manic Street Preachers are set to receive the Godlike Genius award at the 2008 Shockwaves NME Awards, we can reveal.

The Welsh band are set to be honoured for an outstanding, unique and innovative career in music.

Obsessions

As of November 2007

-"Evening Breeze" Colonial Candles

-Jaqua Girls "Buttercream Frosting" Hand Creme

-Kicking Chuck Shumer in the ass

-This picture of Wee Kieren















-Kicking Nancy Pelosi in the ass

-This picture of Drew McConnell

'Motorcycle Emptiness'- Manic Street Preachers

I may be slightly obsessed with this song. It's just lovely, and I vaguely remember seeing it on '120 Minutes' at some point in college. "Vaguely" is the operative word here.

This video so predates 'Lost In Translation.' But with less (no) ScarJo and Carl Spackler.

So pretty

Well, Thomas is....

Love Nicky's bootleg Manics t-shirt, though....

Obsessions

Even with we obsessive fangirls, the muse leaves us-so to speak- every now and again. When this happens to me, musically, I return to the bands I love more than anything (The Jam, The Roses, Oasis, Primal Scream), and then build back up....

As part of the re-building up process, I've been listening to A LOT of the Manic Street Preachers.

Why? It's festival season in the Motherland, and strings and grandiose choruses sound fantastic when shouted along to by thousands of hammered people. The Manics do both of those really, really well. And the whole pinko Commie and eyeliner and dress wearing-things appeal to me. Again, A LOT.

Along my prediction of 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys as the festival anthem of the summer, let me add 'Autumn Song' by the Manics. It's just lovely.