They are among the greatest British pop icons of the 90s: committed lyrics carried by catchy tunes and lead singer James Dean Bradfield's characteristic voice – Manic Street Preachers through and through.
1992 saw the release of the debut album of Blackwood's (Wales) famous musical export. Up until today, "Generation Terrorists" is a powerful and beautiful work of the kind only young British bands manage to create. With "Motorcycle Emptiness," they wrote a hymn that was to become the life soundtrack of a teenage generation.
Subsequent albums released in 1993 and 1994 respectively cemented their status as one of the most important British guitar bands. In 1995, however, Richard Edwards, the band's lyricist and writer and a role model for many, came to be known as the protagonist of "pop s biggest mystery" (Melody Maker). The night before an US tour, he disappeared from his London hotel room. Several weeks later, his car was found near the Severn Bridge connecting England and Wales. Richey himself, however, had disappeared without a trace.
It looked as if the Manics' fate was sealed. However, soon, the three remaining band members realized that continuing was easier than sitting at home and staring at the phone. Consequently, May 1996 saw the release of "Everything Must Go," the fourth album and a new beginning for the Manic Street Preachers.
In
2008, the Manics received an award for their lifetime achievements by the NME: from old stagers, they were slowly turning into seniors. However, the following albums proved that they didn't settle back into their heating pads.
