Manic Street Preachers

21^st Century Appearances: 2008 NME Stage Headliner, 2001 Main Stage Headliner

The Defining Reading Moment: The brutal burst that punctuated the Manic’s incredible 2008 headline set; the Holy Bible stand out “Of Walking Abortion” and Nirvana classic “Pennyroyal Tea”.

The Manic Street Preachers are Reading and Leeds’ royalty. They’ve headlined the main stage twice, and the NME Stage once, across five typically exhilarating performances. As a band they represent so much of what makes Reading, well Reading.

Nicky Wire is the crazy liberal, the out spoken ballzy one, who flirts with androgyny, is happy to slag off any and everyone, and who will wear his political heart on his sleeve. James Dean Bradfield brings a world of hurt on guitar with mammoth solos and crunching riffs as he reels off some of the deepest and most intricate lyrics around. The Manics are a thinking man’s band and a lad rock band at the same time, their a band to get drunk to, to cry in the corner to, and to rage against the machine along side, in short, they’re all things to all people. Oh and then there’s Richie, so depressive, and frankly scary, he brought a dark uncomfortable edge to the band’s music that has endured long beyond his death.

2001 was a triumph that saw a huge crowd bellowing back even the band’s bleakest materiel, while 2008 was a celebration of a once great band being back in the world’s good books. The set was that perfect latterday Manic mix of greatest hits and greatest works with “Motorcycle Emptiness” and “A Design For Life” getting the crowd singing, “The Masses Against The Classes” and “You Love Us” getting everyone bouncing, and “Your Love Alone Is Not Enough” reminding us all that this veteran band could still write a top ten hit. David Hayter