Manic Street Preachers is a British alternative rock band from Blackwood, Wales. It is one of the most important in the United Kingdom in the late 1990s. Their greatest successes remain singles Design for Life (1996) and If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (1998).
They are known for the antics of their early days, for the disappearance and presumed suicide of guitarist Richey James Edwards (or Richey James, as he preferred to be called), as well as for their series of highly iconoclastic albums and their energetic concerts. Politically, they are convinced socialists, a position influenced by their education in a working class environment (they grew up during the British miners' strike of 1984-1985), and highlighted by their often politicized texts and actions; they dedicated one of their awards to unionist Arthur Scargill, leader of the National Union of Mineworkers and later of the Socialist Labor Party.
Manic Street Preachers is formed in 1986 at the Oakdale Comprehensive School, Blackwood, South Wales. At this time, Bradfield, and Sean Moore, write the music, and Wire the lyrics. The origin of the name remains unknown, although Bradfield explains that he is actually inspired by an altercation with someone (apparently a homeless person> who would have asked him: "t what exactly, boyo, a street preacher? ". (manic street preacher)
The first bassist Flicker (Miles Woodward) left the group in 1988, supposedly because he believed that if the band relocated, he would put an end to his punk roots. The band continues in trio, with Wire changing from guitar to bass, and in 1998 publishes his first single, Suicide Alley. After the release of Suicide Alley, Edwards joins the group on rhythm guitar and helps write the lyrics with Wire. Edwards will also learn to create artworks and lead the group in concerts.
