“I think that every band that stays the same basically just dies”
While rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards provided the Manics with an iconic image, James Dean Bradfield was the man with the musical plan, and his playing on landmarks Everything Must Go and The Holy Bible has inspired generations of guitarists. Spurred on by Edwards’ dark, cerebral lyrics, James’s early playing showcased a wide vocabulary of techniques, from the incisive riffery of Motorcycle Emptiness to the iconic arpeggiated chords of A Design For Life, a 90s guitar shop staple.
For such a diverse player, it’s interesting to note that some of JDB’s biggest influences are Joe Strummer, Steve Jones and Slash, the latter of whom inspired James’s use of the Les Paul. He even has a Slash Signature model among his mammoth guitar collection, which includes everything from John 5 Teles to Burns Brian May models and various Fret-Kings. But that’s not nearly as impressive as the variety of musical styles the Manics ran through in their early career, flitting between punk, classic rock and indie within the space of a few years. As a result, JDB continues to be heralded as one of the great unsung British guitar heroes.
Trademark Gear: Gibson Les Pauls, Marshall JCM900
Essential Listening: The Holy Bible (1994)
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