10: John Robb

Join us for our festive special as we host our own (sort of) Christmas party! We answer listener questions and present the Spods 2021 - an award ceremony that comprises of just two awards. Plus, the B-side this episode is No-One Knows What It's Like To Be Me and there's an interview with Ian, the Statto of the Manics fandom, about his work on finding the ultimate Manics Top 50. THE SETLIST: Happy Bored Alone (Venue Cymru, Llandudno, 1st Dec) / She Sells Sanctuary ( Wembley Arena, 3rd Dec) / Ghost Of Christmas / The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York / No-One Knows What It's Like To Be Me / Sound Of The Sirens - Next YearYoutube credits: Oliver James and Deepshite Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat to Marc Burrows all about his fantastic new Manics biography. He talks of the inspiration behind it and the methods in producing such an in-depth publication. To purchase the book go to https://www.marcburrows.co.uk/s/shop The B-side up for debate this episode is the hectic Buildings For Dead People!THE SETLIST:Buildings For Dead People / Forever Delayed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mammoth episode Michael and Emma relive the tour with Daniel Mawer from the brilliant Low Hummer and fan interviews! From Halifax to Kingston we celebrate the Manics being back on the road.THE SETLIST: Orwellian (Bath Forum) / Low Hummer - Sometimes I Wish (I Was A Different Person) / Motorcycle Emptiness (Bath Forum) / La Tristesse Durera (Bath Forum) / Low Hummer - I Choose Live News / Low Hummer - The Real Thing / Everything Must Go (Halifax Peace Hall) / Don't Let The Night Divide Us (Halifax Peace Hall) / Stay Beautiful (Stoke, Victoria Hall) / Sweet Child Of Mine (Stoke, Victoria Hall) / Afterending (Manchester Apollo) / Into The Valley (Glasgow Barrowlands) / Sleepflower (Kingston, Pryzm) / Die In The Summertime (Kingston, Pryzm) Audio credits: IIona78, emily Hyatt, Rockinrollinraptor, ditta1988, Torchwood1970, Graeme Thomson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The long wait is over! The Manics have finally unleashed The Ultra Vivid Lament onto our suspecting ears. Michael and Emma give their track by track first impressions of the band's fourteenth and most melodic album to date. It was so much fun discussing new material. We also hear the thoughts of the Spods. THE SETLIST:Still Snowing In Sapporo / Quest For Ancient Colour / Complicated Illusions / Blank Diary Entry / Afterending Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop the press! This is an emergency podcast to celebrate all the exciting Manics news of the last few days. We discuss the new album, tour and Orwellian. Plus we chat to journalist and fan Jimi Arundell who shares his thoughts. THE SETLIST:Motorcycle Emptiness (Sonic Stealth Orchestra Mix)  / Orwellian / The Vortices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guest this week is writer Stephen Lee Naish as we discuss his two books on the Manics, Riffs And Meaning plus his new career biography for Modern Music Masters. Michael and Emma also discuss the exciting news that a new album is imminent and the B-side is the Nicky Wire led antisocialmanifesto. THE SETLIST: Motorcycle Emptiness (Sonic Stealth Orchestra Mix) / Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - The Time Of My Life / All Alone Here / antisocialmanifesto / The Vortices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat to musician and writer John Robb. His passion for music shines through as we discuss the Manics, his collaboration with Patrick Jones, The James Dean Bradfield remix of a Membranes song and the state of the music industry. The B-side this time around is the classic Prologue to History and listener George takes on the Crucifix Quiz. You can contact us on Twitter at @msp_pod or email us at [email protected] SETLIST: Motorcycle Emptiness (Sonic Stealth Orchestra Mix) / The Anchoress feat. JDB -The Exchange / Prologue To History / Goldblade - Jukebox Generation / Nirvana - Aneurysm / - The Membranes - The Universe Exploses Into A Billion Photons Of Pure White Light (JDB Remix) / Patrick Jones & John Robb - To Be Or Not / The Membranes - What Nature Gives... Nature Takes Away / The Vortices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We celebrate the height of the band's commercial success and take a look at their epic Millennium Stadium gig in Cardiff, the most beautiful place in the world. That night at least. We also rant and rave about The Masses Against The Classes and Democracy Coma. Plus there's the latest news AND our new competition - The Crucifix Quiz! Find is on Twitter at @msp_pod and email us at [email protected] SOUNDTRACK:Motorcycle Emptiness (Sonic Stealth Orchestra Mix) / Democracy Come / You Stole The Sun From My Heart, A Design For Life, Of Walking Abortion, No Surface All Feeling, Ready For Drowning, Stay Beautiful and Australia (Millennium Stadium) / The Masses Against The Classes / The Vortices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael and Emma get rocking around the Christmas tree as they take a look at the band's festive songs and discuss their favourite yuletide tracks of all time. You'll be glad to know this is a Michael Buble free zone. On top of that we have the latest Manics news as well as this episode's B-side - The Sound Of Detachment. We finish this surreal year with the Manic Street Speakers Awards (The Spods 2020) and a ceremony so all over the place it makes the Brits of 1989 look like an act ot professionalism. The SetlistMotorcycle Emptiness (Sonic Stealth Orchestra Mix) / Last Christmas (TFI Friday) / Gjost Of Christmas / Fairytale Of New York with KT Tunstall (Radio 2) / Kelly Clarkson - Underneath The Tree / The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping / Wizard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday / Helen Love - Glitter Star / The Kinks - Father Christmas / Kate Nash - Faith / Spectators Of Suicide - featuring Gwenno / The Anchoress - Show Your Face / JDB - Last Christmas (Nordoff Robbins Christmas Carrol) / The Sound Of Detachment / The Vorticists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and Broadcaster Dorian Lynskey joins us for an in-deph chat about the politics behind Manic Street Preachers. From the Miners' strike through to Cuba and beyond. He also picks his favourite political songs from the band. Locust Valley is the B-side up for scrutiny this week. In other news, Michael is potentially suffering from an illness that is quite popular at the moment and Emma might be an asshole. Links: James Dean Bradfield ) Absolute Radio session) - https://youtu.be/iB5mdhttGF0 / NPO RADIO 2 - Simone's Songlines interview with James - https://youtu.be/iB5mdhttGF0 / Death In The Afternoon Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/death-in-the-afternoon/id1438028898 / Ask A Mortician - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5iiEyLwSLvlqnMi02u5gQ?pbjreload=101 / Dream Nails Bandcamp - https://dreamnails.bandcamp.com/album/dream-nailsTHE SETLIST: Motorcycle Emptiness (Sonic Stealth Orchestra Mix) / JDB - From Despair To Where (Absolute Radio Session) / JDB - Verses Echo, With Tear Flow / Locust Valley / Europa Geht Durch Mich / Found That Soul / Dream Nails - Payback / The Vorticists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.