The Manic Street Preachers have paid tribute to a cafe where they penned many of their early hits, which closed its doors last week.
Dorothy Cafe in High Street, Blackwood, is shutting up shop after nearly 60 years.
The cafe, which opened just after World War II inside a dry cleaners, has been a favourite haunt for the Oakdale legends since their youth, as they used to gather near the juke box to write songs. But staff have hung up their aprons for the last time
Manics singer, James Dean Bradfield said the owners helped the struggling band by selling in the cafe copies of their 1988 debut, Suicide Alley. The 39-year-old said: "They were really supportive of the band at the start.
Nostalgic bassist Nicky Wire, also 39, said: "The best milky coffee in South Wales and it was a great meeting place in the early days of the Manics. It will be sadly missed."
Dorothy Cafe was opened by Jack and Delfina Lusardi who arrived in Wales from Northern Italy in 1949, then passed to sons Tino and Remo 37 years ago. It is understood the cafe will make way for a Nationwide Building Society.
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