Brit indie icons unrecognisable as band make comeback with 15th album – and talk touring with Oasis

A LEGENDARY British Indie band is returning for their 15th album – and shared memories of their near 40-year career with Chris Moyles. 

At the height of their fame in the 90s, this group shot through the charts with their tracks including If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, A Design For Life and You Stole The Sun From My Heart.

Now, the Manic Street Preachers are still going, but were completely unrecognisable as they appeared on Radio X on Monday. 

James Dean Bradfield, 55, and Nicky Wire, 56, the lead singer and guitarist of the group, appeared on the show and discussed the ups and downs of their career so far – including touring with Oasis when the Gallagher brothers were at war with each other. 

Nicky explained: “We were touring with them in America when they sort of cancelled the tour halfway through, which was brilliant. 

“There was so much jeopardy and anxiety, and they were really, excitingly, on the edge.” 

James added that it “wasn’t them falling apart for once” on the chaotic experience. 

Reflecting on the secret to their longevity, James explained: “I think it's a famous Orson Welles quote where he kind of said, ‘Some days acting is like driving a tricycle through a barrel full of molasses’.

“Some days it's just rubbish. It is. But you know that if you just hang in there, keep in the game, stay in the game, the good days will just come. It's as simple as that, really.”

“I'm not trying to be wise or… I'm not trying to be David Carradine wandering through the desert with a bit of wisdom,” he added. “But, kind of, if you just hang in there, it comes, you know?” 

Over the course of the past nearly 40 years, the band have had notable bizarre experiences, including the mysterious disappearance of their guitarist and singer-songwriter, Richey Edwards in 1995. 

To date, it’s still not known what happened to him. 

James, Nicky and Sean Moore have remained with the band since they first got together in 1986, with a rotating group of touring musicians playing alongside them. 

The band are now set to head out on tour, starting at Glasgow Barrowland on 11th April, playing through to Swansea Arena on 18th May.