Biography: Manic Street Preachers @ WelshBands

1985-1987: The embryonic Manics ? Nicky, James and Sean, record their first demos.
SPRING 1989: The Manics, featuring Nicky, James, Sean and original bassist Flicker, play their first gig at Crumlin Railway Hotel, Newbridge.
SPRING 1989: The Manics sack Flicker and became a trio with Nicky on bass ? the birth of the Manics proper.
JUNE 1989: They record their first single, "Suicide Alley". Just 300 copies pressed.
SUMMER 1989: Richey makes his stage debut at a gig at the University of Wales, Swansea.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1989: The Manics play their first London gig, at the Horse & Groom, Great Portland Street.
JUNE 22, 1990: "New Art Riot EP" is released on Damaged Goods.
DECEMBER 13, 1990: After headlining the Heavenly Xmas Party at the Camden Underworld, according to legend, Richey loses his virginity in the venue?s toilets.
JANUARY 21, 1991: "Motown Junk" is released on Heavenly, reaching number 92.
MAY 7, 1991: "You Love Us" reaches number 64.
MAY 15, 1991: Determined to prove the integrity of the band to sceptical journalist Steve Lamacq, Richey carves "4 Real" into his arm after a gig at Norwich Atrs Centre
MAY 21, 1991: Manics sign a 10-album deal with Columbia.
JUNE 29, 1991: "Stay Beautiful" gets to number 40.
OCTOBER 28, 1991: Double A-side "Repeat" / "Love?s Sweet Exile" goes to number 26. The Manics appear on "The Word".
JANUARY 16, 1992: Re-recorded version of "You Love Us" goes to number 16. "Top of the Pops" debut.
FEBRUARY 10, 1992: Debut album "Generation Terrorists" reaches number 13. The Maker calls it "ennui igniting into insurrection".
MARCH 16, 1992: "Slash ?N? Burn" reaches number 20.
APRIL 26, 1992: The Manics begin first US tour in New York.
JUNE 1 , 1992: "Motorcycle Emptiness" peaks at Number 18.
AUGUST 1992: Making a hostile Reading Festival debut, the Manics hospitalise a security guard when Nicky throws his bass into the crowd
SPETEMBER 7, 1992: The Manics cover "Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)" for a charity album. It became their biggest hit to date (number 7).
NOVEMBER 15, 1992: "Little Baby Nothing" a duet with porn starlet Traci Lords reaches number 29.
DECEMBER 11, 1992: During a gig at Kilburn National Ballroom, Nicky wishes death upon Michael Stipe.
JUNE 7, 1993: "From Despair to Where" charts at number 25.
JUNE 26, 1993: "Gold Against The Soul" album charts at number 8.
JULY 25, 1993: "La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)" reaches number 22.
SEPTEMBER 1993: Nicky marries his childhood sweetheart Rachel.
SEPTEMBER 18 & 19, 1993: Manics support Bon Jovi at Milton Keynes Bowl
SEPTEMBER 20, 1993: "Roses In The Hospital" reaches number 15.
DECEMBER 7, 1993: The Manics? manager Philip Hall dies of cancer at the age of 34. The band cancel their show at Brixton Academy.
FEBRUARY 7, 1994: "Life Becoming a Landslide" stalls at number 36.
APRIL 1994: During a Thai tour, Richey visits a prostitute and pays for a handjob. The tour is seen as the beginning of Richey?s breakdown.
JUNE 6, 1994: New double A-side "Faster" / "PCP" peaks at number 16.
JUNE 1994: James wears a terrorist style balaclava for the "TOTP" performance of "Faster". 25,000 viewers ring in to complain.
JUNE 24, 1994: During their debut Glastonbury appearance, Nicky rants "They should build some more by-passes over this shithole".
JULY 1994: Richey is admitted to a NHS psychiatric hospital in Whitchurch, Cardiff.
JULY 30, 1994: The Manics play T In The Park, their first gig as a threesome since 1989.
AUGUST 1, 1994: "Revol" reaches number 22.
AUGUST 1994: Dismayed by Whitchurch?s techniques, the band book Richey into London clinic The Priory.
AUGUST 27, 1994: The Manics play the Reading festival as a trio.
AUGUST 30, 1994: Manics release third album, "The Holy Bible". "White-hot strips of purest vitriol", is The Maker?s verdict. It charts at number 6.
OCTOBER 3, 1994: "She Is Suffering" limps to number 25.
DECEMBER 21, 1994: At the London Astoria, the Manics play with Richey for the last time, smashing their gear.
FEBRUARY 1, 1995: Richey disappears from the Embassy Hotel in west London on the eve of a promotional visit to America.
FEBRUARY 17, 1995: Richey?s car is found at Aust Motorway Services near the Severn Bridge. Speculation grows that he?s killed himself.
DECEMBER 29, 1995: The Manics make their live comeback, supporting The Stone Roses at Wembley Arena.
APRIL 15, 1996: "A Design For Life" rockets straight in at number 2.
MAY 20, 1996: The fourth Manics album, "Everything Must Go", charts at number 2.
JULY 29, 1996: The albums title track goes to number 5.
AUGUST 10 & 11, 1996: The Manics support Oasis at Knebworth.
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996: "Kevin Carter" peaks at number 7.
DECEMBER 2, 1996: "Australia" also gets to number 7. The Manics are the only UK act to notch up four Top 10 hits in 1996.
FEBRUARY 24, 1997: The Manics win Best Band and Best Album at the Brit Awards. James dedicates the triumph to Philip Hall and Richey.
MAY 24, 1997: The Manics play the 15,000 capacity Nynex Arean in Manchester.
AUGUST 23, 1997: The Manics headline the Reading Festival.
SEPTEMBER 29, 1997: Shot at the Nynext gig in May, "Everything Live", the first Manics video, is released.
AUGUST 24, 1998: The single "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" becomes the Manics? first number 1.
SEPTEMBER 14, 1998: "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours" tops the album chart.
NOVEMBER 30, 1998: "The Everlasting" creeps to number 11.
FEBRUARY 1999: The Manics win Best Band and Best Album at the Brits ? again.
MARCH 8, 1999: "You Stole The Sun From My Heart" reaches number 5.
JUNE 26, 1999: The Manics headline Glastonbury.
JULY 5, 1999: "Tsunami" charts at number 11.
JULY 11, 1999: Manics play a storming set as T In The Park headliners.
OCTOBER 5, 1999: Manics hold press conference, confirming a 52,000-capacity New Year?s Eve gig at Cardiff?s Millennium Stadium.
JANUARY, 2000: Limited edition single, Masses Against The Classes reaches number 1 in the charts.
17 FEBRUARY, 2001: The Manics play a 'come-back' gig in Cuba, the audience included President Fidel Castro.

The Manic Street Preachers are: James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore.

Written by DANIEL BOOTH (Adapted by WelshBands), taken from MELODY MAKER Nov 3-Nov 9 1999.