If Ian MacDonald had written his seminal Beatles tome Revolution in the Head using newly sourced contributions from the band itself, it would probably resemble 168 Songs of Hatred and Failure: A History of Manic Street Preachers by esteemed music journalist Keith Cameron.
An astute study of some of the key songs from the Manics’ four-decades-spanning catalogue, it solidifies their status as one of the best, most idiosyncratic bands of their generation. James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire are characteristically eloquent, amusing, self-aware and honest (as usual, drummer Sean Moore remains silent); they really get inside these songs. It will inspire you to relisten and re-evaluate.
Former band member Richey Edwards, who disappeared in 1995, haunts almost every page. How could he not? And yet without diminishing that tragedy, this is ultimately a rather uplifting saga about friendship, resilience and an insatiable desire to create the perfect pop song. It’s also, of course, about culture, alienation, boredom and despair. The whole Manics gamut, a definitive account.
168 Songs of Hatred and Failure: A History of Manic Street Preachers by Keith Cameron is out now (White Rabbit, £30). You can buy it from the Big Issue shop on bookshop.org, which helps to support Big Issue and independent bookshops.
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