"The Manics sounded pretty desperate, but in an alluring way"

"I liked the Manics because right from the outset they admitted to being contrived & that their ultimate goal was widespread success, both critically & fiscally – & by any means necessary.

The idea of a band from small town Wales sitting down & more or less strategically planning a band that would be a cross between Guns N Roses, The Clash & Public Enemy was both tenacious & ridiculous. In that sense they were possibly doomed to fail – they were never as good as any of them – but what came out of it was an interesting amalgamation of their influences. I still love their early singles, but it was when they started being themselves on The Holy Bible that they got really good, I think.

The Manics also made no bones about their preferred desire to be in the pages of The Sun than the NME, because “builders read The Sun”. In other words, they didn’t want to preach to the already-converted. In a time of earnest, low-ambition indie bands – this would be around 1990-1991 - that was almost revolutionary. So as you say their substance may have been questionable, but their singular vision was definitely heartfelt. The Manics displayed a working class ambitious streak to elevate themselves above their surroundings that’s far less prevalent in bands today. Indie rock in 2010 is inherently middle class. You can tell just by listening - few bands sound hungry or desperate. The Manics sounded pretty desperate, but in an alluring way".
- Ben Myers
...author of 'Richard', a forthcoming novel about...RiCHEY EDWARDS!!!

Reblogged from sleepflowers. But here's the full interview.

& also why not post this bit...

"I wrote this book for people who have never heard of Richey Edwards, & I thought his story was one that had not been told in a manner befitting his life. He always came across to me as someone who was playful, mischievous, provocative, funny, yet if you read any music press or newspaper accounts today all you hear about is self-harm & depression. Read the early interviews though and some of them are hilarious – really inspiring & life-affirming.

I think to get where they wanted to be the Manics – & especially Richey - constructed a mythical persona, possibly as an armour of sorts. But since his disappearance all that side of him seems to have been forgotten & the press & some fans have reverted to type by branding him as this doomed Rimbaud or Thomas Chatterton-type figure. I wanted to get beyond that false perception & tell the story of an intelligent young academic from a good home with good friends around him who became the most engaging British rock star of his era."

Wow I want 2 read this book. But there are sooo many books I wanna read.