9 Times Manic Street Preachers Proved They Were The Most Exciting Band On The Planet
2. They Laughed At The Death Of An Icon
After two indie singles, Suicide Alley and the New Art Riot EP, Manic Street Preachers signed to Heavenly Records in 1990. Though still an independent label, Heavenly would give the band a much bigger potential audience. So in true Manics style, they decided to alienate most of these new fans before they'd even had a chance to love the band.
Coming close to crossing the line between controversial and downright offensive, their first single for Heavenly, Motown Junk, includes the provocative line I laughed when Lennon got shot. The original artwork for the single even featured a collage by artist Paul Cannell that showed Yoko Ono holding a gun to the late Beatle's head.
Despite their joy at courting controversy, the band themselves decided this might be overstepping the mark. Though the song itself was never censored, James Dean Bradfield now refuses to sing the offending line live, instead opting for I laughed and letting the rest hang unsaid.