9 Times Manic Street Preachers Proved They Were The Most Exciting Band On The Planet

by Thomas Bagnall

1. They Created Top Of The Pops History

Before it tried (and failed) to modernise itself, Top Of The Pops was the biggest music show in the country, a weekly showcase of what was currently hot. Appearing on it gave a band a huge platform, and when the Manic's got the opportunity to perform the lead single from their third album, The Holy Bible, they seized it with both hands.

James Dean Bradfield wore a balaclava with his first name scrawled across the front, while the other members wore army fatigues. It was an eye-catching stunt from a band who had become known for pushing people to get a reaction. And get a reaction they did.

The unimpressed viewing public registered over 25,000 complaints, a record number for the show, with many of them seeing the performance as being pro-IRA. Though unintended, it€™'s easy to see why some might jump to this conclusion. The band look equal parts silly and dangerous, and the energy coming from the stage is ferocious.

Nowadays, even Nicky Wire can see why it was so divisive. "We were so Apocalypse Now by this point. I look at it now and it scares me a bit watching that video," he recently said.

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