168 Songs of Hatred and Failure

A History of Manic Street Preachers

By: Keith Cameron

Narrated by: Huw Stephens, Jude Rogers

'A forensic exploration of their compositions and recordings, and everything that has been poured into them . . . completely definitive' MOJO

The story of Manic Street Preachers is unique in pop. Raging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, they were seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial failure and personal despair. The story took a further agonising twist when the tragedy of Richey Edwards' 1995 disappearance was followed by a remarkable rebirth, built upon 'A Design For Life' - a hymn to the band's working-class roots - and then the award-winning, multi-million-selling album Everything Must Go, a majestic soundtrack to history and loss. Within five years, Manic Street Preachers were playing to 60,000 at the national stadium of Wales and had their second UK Number 1 single. Subsequent output has confirmed the band as both a wellspring of restless creativity and a barometer of the cultural conversation.

Because it was music that saved them, it's through the prism of their music that Keith Cameron tells the definitive history of Manic Street Preachers, drawing on many hours of new interviews to dive deep into 168 songs, from 1988 debut single 'Suicide Alley' to the late day peaks of 2025 album Critical Thinking. Writing with the band's full co-operation, his book charts the dynamic evolution of a universe in which Karl Marx and Kylie Minogue happily co-exist, that accords Rush and The Clash equal favour, and where Morrissey & Marr meet Torvill & Dean via Nietzsche and New Order in a single four-minute pop song - all in the name of what Nicky Wire himself calls 'the fabulous disaster' of Manic Street Preachers.©2025 Keith Cameron (P)2025 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Absolute must for fans of all era Manics

I had the audio version of the book as I like to listen as I paint. It fulfilled so much of my fanboy love about and for the Manics that it is impossible to list everything in one review! But here are some points:

I got an insight into songs that I have known and loved since the 1990's that made them even richer for me now. I heard about songs I did not know had been recorded, and re-listened to some from albums that were not my normal go - to's for Manics listening.

I don' think I am a typical Manics fan. I love Gold Against The Soul, and thought Resistance Is Futile brilliant. I felt affirmed as a fan though when we read that James also thought Between The Clock And The Bed should have been a single. There are so many moments like this.

I loved hearing about Sean Moore's contributions to certain songs, much I was previously unaware of. And who knew that Know Your Enemy was originally conceived as a two album set - this explains a lot about that record.

Manics fans - you will NOT be disappointed. I will likely listen to this again, something I rarely do. I may even buy the hard copy too.