From the Heart of South Wales: Manic Street Preachers

Their debut album, “Generation Terrorists,” hit the shelves in February 1992, followed by two subsequent releases. However, tragedy struck in 1995 when Richey Edwards vanished without a trace, his fate remaining a mystery until he was officially presumed deceased in 2008.

Despite the shadow cast by this heartbreaking loss and the fact the tragedy still slightly taints their history, they still made a name for themselves in the music industry, and have headlined several music festivals including Glastonbury and Reading – and that’s without even mentioning the numerous awards the Manics won through their career.

Even despite their success, the main reason I’m choosing to write about them here is that they’re one of the few bands that don’t forget their roots. They came from a small town and acknowledge that, a prime example being how just a couple of months ago James Dean Bradfield was a surprise guest at a birthday gig for his cousin Steve Mayo, appearing to cover some songs at a small venue in Crumlin. 

I personally find it inspirational how the Manics still hold a special place in their hearts for the valleys despite being so famous internationally, and I’m sure many budding musicians who live in this area feel the same!