Nailed To History: The Story of the Manic Street Preachers

In the last two decades, Manic Street Preachers have established themselves as one the UK's enduring, intelligent and credible rocks groups, but that quest for greatness has seen the band follow a difficult, sometimes torturous path, with one of their number - the gifted yet troubled Richley Edwards - abandon that that quest altogether for destinations still unknown. Nailed To History traces the slow yet inexorable climb of the South Wales band from their late 1980s origins as glam punk inspired, though critically derided 'Generation Terrorists' to their current position as respected art rock intellectuals - a fact underlined by 2009's award-winning A Journal For Plague Lovers. It also examines the life and complex personality of Edwards, whose highly politicised, morally disquieting wordplay defined much of the manics' early appeal - his personal demons writ large across 1994's 'dark masterwork', The Holy Bible. Edwards' evermore extreme behaviour culminated in his sad, strange disappearance in February, 1995 and forced the colleagues he left behind to re-examine thier motives before making a triumphal return with 1996's best-selling Everything Must Go. A story of honour and enduring friendship, marked with tales of 'culture, alienation, boredom' and occasional dispaire, Nailed To History also includes full album reviews and an up-to-date discongraphy. Intro -- Title Page -- Contents -- 1: When We Were Happy -- 2: The Bands Of Boredom -- 3: Convergences -- 4: Education Is Never A Waste -- 5: Escape Velocity -- 6: Advancing Into Battle -- 7: Signs And Wonders -- 8: The Fabulous Disaster -- 9: Everything That Glitters -- Picture Section A -- 10: Temporary Caesars -- 11: A Spell Of Riot -- 12: Ever Decreasing Circles -- 13: Intermission -- 14: A Beckoning Silence -- 15: In Absentia -- 16: Chosen -- Picture Section B -- 17: As You Sow, So Shall You Reap -- 18: Joy In Repetition -- 19: A Sort Of Homecoming -- 20: Know Your Limits -- 21: Slipping Into Fiction -- 22: What Immortal Hand Or Eye? -- 23: Return Of The Beautiful Boy -- 24: Nailed To History -- Multimedia Discography -- Recommend to a Friend -- Also Available -- Acknowledgements -- Discography -- Copyright In the last two decades, The Manic Street Preachers have established themselves as one of the UK's most enduring and intelligent rock groups, with nine Top Ten albums, 16 Top Ten singles, three Number Ones and a brace of Brit Awards. This book traces the slow yet inexorable climb of the South Wales band from their late 80s origins onwards. Nailed To History traces the slow yet inexorable climb of the South Wales band from their late 80s origins as glam punk inspired, though critically derided 'Generation Terrorists' to their current position as respected art rock intellectuals - a fact underlined by 2009's award winning disc, A Journal For Plague Lovers.

Nailed To History traces the Manics from their late 80s origins and contains interviews with those close to the band, full album reviews and an up to date discography.