On 14 May, stood Manic Street Preachers in a sold galaxy. A few hours before the occurrence WiM spoke with vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield of rock and roll, politics and inspiration. A lively conversation in the band's dressing room.
You guys have been around for over twenty years and are still a lot more consistent and proved stronger than most of your contemporaries. In 1994, for example, you were still with Suede in Amsterdam ... Your band is what proved stable over the years.
Suede ... my god ... ( remember the tour and shakes his head ). Our band was born out of friendship, that's the power. Nicky and I have known each other since we were small. Sean is like a brother to me. We also have our 'rock and roll' had, even though it's never gone to fetch us. Richey does have used natural. And myself ... when we become famous mostly I learned to drink plenty of bad whiskey! Since I stopped when I was about 33. I still drink for fun, at a sporting event or something.
The band has repeated to himself never boringly or perfunctory made redundant albums.
Hmmm...Maybe Lifeblood was not so good. In the studio we often picked up the third idea, instead of the first or second idea and that was wrong.
The album has 1985 and The Love Of Richard Nixon surely good moments?
1985 is okay, yes. And Nixon , which is indeed interesting. It's about humanity. Nixon politically done good things, but he is completely burnt. He did not come from the 'right nest, "as Kennedy. Of course Nixon was awfully corrupt but remember that Kennedy invaded Cuba and always quite round sewed. There, you hear a lot less about. I think A Song For Departure on Lifeblood indeed very successful. It betrays our secret love for ABBA!
In 1985, you wrote all songs on the miners' strike. What did you think of the politics involved bands from that era, such as Easter House?
Good band, I had their album. I also liked the pictures on the covers. But they kept some in the margins. Style Council would have politically conscious too, but they at least add some more color, glamour. The Clash had also known that 'great' that 'look'. This also applied to Public Enemy. The Clash has greatly inspired us. Besides, McCarthy was also a very good relationship from that time. They had to report meaningful things, but wrapped their records also beautiful.
About Style Council said. What did you think of Paul Weller's socially critical Wake Up The Nation last year?
It was a genuine record, nothing wrong. He's just not as specific in his criticism as before. This last album is more like "I understand the world of today no more." And that's it.
In the past you wanted to get the people out of their stupor, wake up.
Oh well, I am also a bit dazed because I like clutter in the yard, haha. But what disturbs me greatly especially who continued loyalty to the royal family. That Royal Wedding ... You heard often: "ah, it was a great week for the nation." What now? It costs a fortune to marriages usually run in a divorce! The royal family is not elected and not accountable! Why can not I hear more bands against acting?
Back to the music. Postcards From A Young Man is a rich album. In your career you have anyway frequently switch between solid rock and strong melodic, almost sweet music.
The B-side of Kevin Carter, Horses Under Starlight is almost Burt Bacharach and so do you have more of that kind of tracks. Well, you get home something with it. My parents turned Bacharach and Elvis. I often listened to the soundtrack of Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid , especially Raindrops Keep Falling On My Hea d. And there was a number of Telly Savalas, If that was for me as a child something transcendental. And my first love was ELO...On the basis of Postcards , moreover, was the betrayal of New Labour. Look, socialism means in practice everywhere different. And yet...when typical British industries on their asses were called on the government that it could not intervene in the market, would not disturb the market. But the banks could do it suddenly. Of course, if nothing was done with the banks the country would have slipped, but still...For the white collar could be done much more than ordinary workers.
That comes back on the plate: it you can not find in the party to which you have always voted.
Yes, indeed. This was therefore also to the base of the plate. But most of Postcards incidentally is about other things, you know. It really does not have to be about politics!
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