Manic Street Preachers @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 1st June 2015
When the Manic Street Preachers announced dates last year to mark the 20th anniversary of their iconic album, The Holy Bible, which would see them play the album in its entirety, those dates, as expected sold out very quickly. So much so that further dates were added for 2015. Tonight is one of those additional dates, in a venue the band has played many times, including with founder member Richey Edwards, the chief lyricist for the album. These second dates also sold out.
It’s a cold rainy night in Wolverhampton, and not typical start of the summer but the mood outside reflects the dark nature of the first half of tonight’s evening. The house sounds are very loud, so much so that most people are stood outside the venue or in the foyer. The tunes though are excellent as tonight’s DJ is Manics biographer Simon Price. With no support, the band take to the stage to play The Holy Bible, and it soon becomes clear the love for the band from their audience. There’s little chat with the crowd, which adds to the sombre nature of the songs.
The album is played in the exact same running order, with the same recorded intros. Particularly haunting is the mother’s voice of one of the Yorkshire Ripper’s victims on ‘Archives of Pain’. As a trio it’s amazing to hear and witness just how they manage to replicate the sounds, Sean Moore is a powerhouse on drums, Nicky Wire providing the bass backline and James Dean Bradfield creating the most magical riffs and pouring his heart and soul into incredible vocals. Of course there is a void missing and as Wire says “…there’s a space in that corner, he trod these actual boards, this is for you Richey” before a blistering ‘Revol’.
“The album was a touch too dark without this song” Bradfield tells us and changing guitar says “this is actually Richey’s guitar” before playing ‘This is Yesterday’. The Holy Bible is an incredible album, it’s hard to believe it’s over twenty years old and given the disappearance of founder member and chief lyricist Richey Edwards it deserves much more recognition. Joy Division’s ‘Closer’ has been analysed over and over again since the loss of Ian Curtis, with new meanings trying to be unearthed from his lyrics and the same should happen to The Holy Bible. It’s an iconic album of the nineties, and one of the best albums of all time in my opinion. The first set closes with a blistering “P.C.P”, both crowd and Wire pogoing in unison.
After a ten minute interlude, Bradfield returns alone for an acoustic rendition of ‘The Everlasting’ aided by 3000 backing vocalists. Then joined by his band members (and an additional guitarist and keyboard player) we are treated to a further hour that draws on their huge back catalogue.
Highlights are ‘Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ dedicated to Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) as “we’re in the home of rock ‘n’ roll” and ‘Removables’ which is a beautiful song. Wire does say that next year they’re planning a 20th anniversary of the Everything Must Go album “only trouble is I’d have to wear all those fucking boring clothes” (he’s currently in the most silver sparkling coat seen in these parts since Dave Hill was here in the seventies) He does though say that “James and Sean are quite happy about that as it happens”. Let’s hope they do tour the album.
Tonight has been a celebration, of a true classic album. It’s dark and the subject matter is at times challenging, but on reflection this gives an insight into the mind of the genius of Richey Edwards at that time and also what a loss he has been to music. The songs were played with passion and if you closed your eyes you could reach out and touch Richey, his presence was all around.
This was a brilliant gig, part one was as expected, perfection. Part two showed how the band have evolved and continued to develop and grow, and fittingly the bottom of the set-list states “it is not possible for a man to be elegant without a touch of femininity”- Vivienne Westwood.
Manic Street Preachers we salute you.
Set list
Yes
Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit’sworldwouldfallapart
Of Walking Abortion
She is Suffering
Archives of Pain
Revol
4st 7lb
Mausoleum
Faster
This is Yesterday
Die in the Summertime
The Intense Humming of Evil
P.C.P
The Everlasting
Motorcycle Emptiness
Walk Me to the Bridge
Condemned to Rock ‘n’ Roll
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
Your Love Alone is not Enough
Removables
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Golden Platitudes
You Love Us
A Design for Life
Review: Glenn Raybone
Photographs: Katie Foulkes