MANIC STREET PREACHERS

Nicky Wire Questionnaire

(Taken from Black Velvet 14 - Nov 97)

By Shari Black Velvet

What’s the next best thing to doing a face-to-face interview with Nicky Wire of the Manics? Why, having Nicky fill in a written questionnaire of course! At the Manics ‘warm up to Reading’ gig the night before their main stage appearance at the Reading Festival on August 23rd, I travelled to Newport to see the Manics at the much more intimate Newport Centre. Upon the band’s arrival, I handed Nicky an envelope with a questionnaire in it. Six days later and the questionnaire plonked through my letterbox, gloriously filled in by the man himself.

Bearing in mind that written questionnaires are the perfect excuse for one word answers, read below...

Nicky Wire on the cover of Black Velvet 23 - sold out

Black Velvet : It’s been a totally amazing year for the Manics. Without meaning to be greedy, and of course besides the obvious, is there anything you’d wish for that you didn’t achieve, do or obtain in ‘96/’97.

Nicky: I don’t think about it.

BV: On May 24th you played your biggest headline gig to date at the Nynex Arena. Which is best - playing big sold out venues where any old Joe Bloggs may attend (you know, trendy kids who may have only heard ‘A Design For Life, and the like) or small intimate clubs/halls where you know that everyone in the audience is a loyal fan and totally 100% into the band?

N: I much prefer big venues. At small ones we miss Richey more. At big ones you can lose yourself.

BV: I loved the tiara at the Nynex. Very glamorous! Is there anything you wouldn’t wear on stage? What other accessories are you open to wearing on stage? I know fans must give you all sorts - give me some ideas of cool things you’d love to receive!

N: Cat masks, more tiaras, glitter, make up.

BV: What do you think of all the Manics fanzines that are around and continually springing up?

N: I think they’re very positive and I read them all.

BV: Why don’t you have an official fan club?

N: Because they are usually crap.

BV: What do you think of the Manics books that have been released - Paula Shutkever’s ‘Design For Living’ and now Nick Wise’s biog?

N: All rubbish - but some good pictures.

BV: Out of the seven wonders of the world, which is the most wonderful?

N: Nature!

BV: Of the seven deadly sins, which are you most guilty of?

N: Nerves.

BV: Knowing that you are not really ‘Rock’, what do you think of rock fans like myself that are into the band? How does it feel knowing that all different types of people in all walks of life into all different types of music love the Manics?

N: It’s what we’ve always been about.

BV: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

N: Go to bed as often as you can.

BV: As we approach the new millennium and with the new Labour government, what changes would you like to see happening in Great Britain?

N: Life sentences for rapists, more money for schools & NHS.

BV: How much material has been written for the next album so far? And are there any recently written ones that you can’t wait for people to hear?

N: 14 new songs.

BV: Will the new album consist of entirely new material? Any plan on using any other Richey lyrics?

N: Yes - No.

BV: If you could ask a wise person a smart question, what would you ask them?

N: I wouldn’t.

Visit www.manics.co.uk for more info.

James Dean Bradfield Questionnaire

(Taken from Black Velvet 19 - Feb '99)

By Shari Black Velvet

Continuing our theme, 'Everyone gives the Manics questionnaires, therefore so shall we', we gave James Dean Bradfield, Manics maestro, a questionnaire during the September tour. Unfortunately, although James told us two days later that he had filled it in and returned it to Black Velvet, it never arrived. "Send another if you don't get it" were James's words. So... we promptly mailed a second one to him via the Manics PR company. This time, it plopped through our letterbox just in time for Christmas.

BV: How did you celebrate your first number 1 single?

J: Watched everybody get drunk (for a change) & did a gig in Belfast & saw Mr. Cairns.

BV: Name 5 things you won't tolerate.

J: Betrayal - Racism - Bullying - Short attention spans - Liars.

BV: When I told you I was only going to the Port Talbot, Stoke & Hereford gigs of this tour, you said 'Oh, you're getting bored of us'. Not true. So would you prefer fans to come to lots of your gigs? Don't you get bored of seeing the same faces in the audience?

J: I was only kidding. Come as you are.

BV: How did you feel doing the signing session at Cardiff Virgin Megastore at midnight on Sept. 14th after playing the Radio 1 Live gig?

J: Lovely.

BV: How do you feel when fans want to take your photo all the time? Do you mind fans clicking away in the front row?

J: No, I was worse when I was young.

BV: What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning?

J: Make a cup of tea - toast with sardine & tomato paste on it.

BV: Where did you find your keyboard tech? Everyone thinks he resembles Richey...

J: He was a friend of the Deptfords & worked with The Verve with them.

BV: What are you most looking forward to?

J: Crimbo.

BV: What do you think of the Manics book 'In Their Own Words' by Michael Heatley? Being always interested in quotes and slogans, how does it feel now that all of your own quotes have been put down in print for a book?

J: Not very good.

BV: Nicky wrote in 'If You Tolerate This...' that he's ashamed of being so young and being so vain. What are you most ashamed of?

J: Inbuilt generational moral cowardice.

BV: Do you have any ambitions?

J: Millions.

BV: What makes you laugh?

J: Nick, Sean, my dog, Martin, Frazier.

BV: What excites you?

J: Secret.

BV: When was the last time you were embarrassed?

J: 4 Minutes ago.

BV: Do you have any bad habits?

J: Over indulgence, whisky, cigs, bar, philosophy.

BV: Do you ever surf the Internet? What do you think of the net and computer technology?

J: I am computer illiterate.