...and so I got carried away.
The movie made me go check on the Manics and, guess what? They've got a new album out. "Journal for Plague Lovers" - damn, the titles are just gettin' better! But actually this is an album made of Richey's lost lyrics. The title makes sense that way. "There was a sense of responsibility to do his words justice," Wire said. I never thought they'd do it. James should seriously get a special award for making those into songs. Track 13 was so grim that he couldn't sing it, so Wire did it instead. Which is bad. I love Nick and all, but he really sucks at singing.
This is not an albut to just listen to though, but to study. It will take time, so I may update once I explore it.
They tried to avoid even bringing him up for years and now the ghosts have been let loose. Scatter the ashes one more time...
The British press is all too happy to gnaw on it and shower Nick with all the stupid 'hows' and 'whys' and 'what ifs'. 14 years later making headlines again and reviving the saddest OTP of all.
I miss being in this small elitist fandom. And it's so sweet to find my own traces all these years later.
In other news: Last year Richey's parents have proclaimed him officially dead. The Manics won "NME Godlike Genius" for 2008. Sean has 3 kids now and Wire has a son, while James still doesn't seem to have any.
So this is it - 20 years. 18 years since Nicky said: "We're not saying there's anything glamorous in getting fucked up, we're not saying there's anything glamorous in being dead, but there's nothing glamorous in having a 20- year career in rock either. That's even more sick." This is how your own words tend to come back and bite at you. Especially when you're Nicky Wire. But I'm glad they're still standing - humble and proud at once.