| JUNE 21 2000 : Jurors Questioned About S.Y.M.M. |
Potential jurors in a forthcoming inquest into the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 have been asked whether they have heard "S.Y.M.M.", the Manics song with stands for South Yorkshire Mass Murderer. The song is an attack on the police, who have been accused by many (icluding Jimmy McGovern, who is namechecked in the song) of standing by while 96 people were crushed to death |
| JUNE 20 2000 : James To Appear On 'All Back To Mine' |
Channel 4's music show "All Back To Mine", which returns to the air on Wednesday the 23rd of August at 11:30pm for a nine show stint, will feature James Dean Bradfield inviting host Sean Rowley to his house to go through his record collection and discuss his favourite music. The date of the program featuring JDB is not yet confirmed, so you'll just have to watch 'em all. Other planned guests include Shaznay Lewis, Keith Allen, Lemmy and Huey FLC. Enjoy! |
| JUNE 13 2000 : Nicky Wire Voted Coolest of 2000 |
Nicky Wire has won a Melody Maker poll for the "Coolest Person of 2000". He beat last years winner Cerys Matthews of Catatonia, as well as Kelly Jones and Fran Healy. |
| JUNE 7 2000 : David Holmes To Produce Two Tracks |
The Belfast DJ David Holmes will produce two of the tracks to appear on the Manics sixth album. He was approached by James Dean Bradfield, who said he was a fan of David’s previous work. A spokesperson for David said: "They’ve talked about David doing a couple of tracks, and David’s certainly into it, but there’s nothing more we can say at the moment." |
| MAY 25 2000 : Nicky's Keyboard Offered |
Nicky Wire's first musical instrument - a Bontempi Electric Chord Keyboard, which he received as a Christmas present from his parents when he was 14 years old, has been donated to the current nationwide 'instrument amnesty' by his mum Irene Jones. The amnesty scheme is designed to pass unused instruments onto children keen to start playing but without necessary means. Irene said "I heard about the appeal on BBC Radio Wales and it reminded me about Nicky's keyboard. It has been sat in the house for years not being used and I thought it would be nice if another child could use it." |
| MAY 10 2000 : Sixth Album Under Way |
Recording of the Manics sixth album has begun in the Rockfield studios in Wales. It promises to be in the same vain of The Masses Against The Classes. A source close to the Manics said "The band are making it quite clear they are just going to keep their heads down this year and come back with something that returns to their darker roots" |
| APRIL 26 2000 : Manics Support Armenian Cause |
The Manics are supporting a campaign get the British government to recognise the massacre of more than a million Armenians in Turkey in 1915. Lecturer Greg Topalian invited the Manics to a documentary screening at the LSE earlier this month. Unfortunately they couldn't make it due to work obligations, but pledged their support in a press statement. A march through London for the cause took place on the 24th of April |
| APRIL 4 2000 : Manics Promise New Direction And Image |
James Dean Bradfield has told of how the Manic's sixth album, to be released in 2001, will be accompanied by a new image and musical direction. Speaking on the new NME Manics Microsite, he said: "We feel like we need to start thinking on a different level. We've got to move things on and try to become another version of ourselves" |
| MARCH 4 2000 : Manic Millennium Video/DVD Release |
A video of the Manic Millennium concert at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, entitled "Leaving The 20th Century (the incomplete work of Manic Street Preachers)", is to be released on VHS on Monday April 10 and on DVD on April 31 2000. It will, according to a recent official press release, contain the entire 20 song set, which spans two millennia. It will also contain before and after band interviews, footage of the sound-check and rehearsals, and interviews with fans on the night. The title is thought to be a response to the continuing rumours of a Manics split. |
| FEBRUARY 20 2000 : Sherry Edwards Appeals To Richey |
Sherry Edwards, mother of Richey Edwards, has written an open letter to a British Tabloid Newspaper saying: "I am scared that your decision to disappear like that has made you feel you can never come back. We all want to tell you that's not true" Click here to read the full letter and accompanying article. Richey will officially be declared dead in under 2 years time. |
| FEBRUARY 2 2000 : Nicky Wire Awarded Fellowship |
Nicky Wire has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Wales, Swansea, where he received a degree in politics in 1990. He has been invited to a ceremony in July. Vice Chancellor Professor Robin Williams described Wire as a "much-lauded contributor to the modern British music scene" Nicky is said to be "delighted". |
| FEBRUARY 1 2000 : Brit Award Nomination |
You Stole The Sun From My Heart, the third single release from This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, has been nominated in the category of Best British Single for this years Brit Awards. The other nominees in this category are: Basement Jaxx; Red Alert, Supergrass; Moving, Moloko; Sing It Back, Blur; Tender, Robbie Williams; She's The One, Travis; Why Does It Always Rain On Me, Fatboy Slim; Praise You, Chemical Brothers; Hey Boy Hey Girl, Shanks & Bigfoot; Sweet Like Chocolate. The awards ceremony takes place on Friday the 3rd of March in London and will probably be televised the following day on ITV. |
| FEBRUARY 1 2000 : Richey Edwards Missing 5 Years |
Richey Edwards, lead songwriter of The Manic Street Preachers, has been missing five years today. On February 1 1995 he left unannounced from the London Embassy hotel, drove over the Severn Bridge to his flat in Cardiff, then returned to the Severn bridge where he lived in his car for several days. His car was found abandoned on Friday the 17th of February 1995. He has not been seen since the day he went missing. He will officially be declared dead on this date in two years time. |