Manic Street Preachers - Faster (Top Of The Pops 1994)

[@badinfluence3814]

Im not prone to hyperbole but the Manics (particularly in the 90s) are one of the truly great bands, with The Holy Bible being their peak moment. What a time the early to mid-90s was for bands, a true golden era for rock/guitar/electronic music.

[@pigriser]

I think The Holy Bible Manics era was unique because Richey was just on a mission to write everything down. Lyrically The Holy Bible is astounding but I don't envy James having to sing parts of it.

[@brianstephens575]

I listened to the holy bible everyday for about four years when it came out one of the greatest darkest albums of any musical genre

[@CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

and now the most relevant LP in the history of mankind

[@tyvole36]

I guess you never listened to Joy Division or Christian Death?

[@mscyberkitty666]

@@tyvole36 weirdly, I've never found Christian Death depressing. Joy Division, definitely. THB is one of my albums I have to be careful with listening to as I have bipolar/CPTSD etc and was obsessed with it when doing certain harmful behaviours when severely depressed from 12 years old. I love it but music brings back memories and if you have certain behaviours associated with certain music...you know what I mean. Not disrespecting THB or the manics or blaming them in any way. I'm still struggling with my unhealthy coping mechanisms so it's unfortunate some of my favourite music is stuff I have to refrain from listening to for long periods.

[@G.L.O.S.S.]

@@tyvole36 Christian Death fucking sucks besides Deathwish and Only Theatre of Pain, and he didn't even said that the Holy Bible is the darkest album of all times.

[@mafiablokes]

@@tyvole36 lol Joy Division is such a normie take

[@RUDI-UK]

"I've been too honest with myself, i should have lied like everybody else"... what a fucking line

[@callmeace3112]

i know!! And more tbe fucking honest and srream of concious writing on this abd spatt out plath and Pinter ...XXX🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SMoggyinski]

"I've been too honest with myself, I should have lied like everybody else" .. I absolutely love MSP lyrics ..

[@meseameryo3202]

So damn easy to cave in...

[@gregkiteos1936]

I've been listening to The Holy Bible a lot these past couple of months and I can't make out a lot of the lyrics. I've been picking out bits the more I listen to it, but James's singing is so fast that it sounds like a blur.

[@SMoggyinski]

@@gregkiteos1936 When the Holy Bible was released, the Manics took out a full double page spread in the NME which included all the lyrics. I think it was intended to be like a manifesto or statement, but it was also very handy when you were listening to the songs for the first time too :-)

[@Theremedialgash]

@@SMoggyinski Wednesday in sixth form, gathered around the NME and occasionally melody maker always a bit of Viz too but it was over priced and shit - their words not mine. Sorry went in to dream mode. xxx

[@klausrain111]

One of the greatest singers ever. Such range, so much personality. And so unorthodox.

[@zeddeka]

Actually, from a technical viewpoint, he doesn't have a particularly wide, multi octave vocal range. He's a tenor and has his vocal sweet spot in a relatively high key, but you can hear the limitations when he transitions between keys, either going falsetto or struggling somewhat with lower notes and the break between his head voice and chest voice. Within his vocal sweet spot though, his voice is unusually melodic

[@randle-s9y]

Guitar legend in all

[@c2e.7877]

His voice has a certain charm and energy, that's cool

[@tamercnar7851]

😊😊😊😊😊

[@tamercnar7851]

😊

[@mercedesgarciacarrillo1736]

25000 BBC complaints can't be wrong. Manics at their absolute best

[@conorsmith8551]

25000 was it that many ??! Fuuuck , up there with brass eye then , good company haha

[@HelenWaldron-g3s]

Yeah and that's classic!❤❤❤❤

[@porkpiepilgrim5302]

Most complaints were about the naked flames

[@Birsa]

Sean's drumming is so awesome.

[@irisink]

I think he's the greatest 90's British drummer along with Ride's Loz Colbert.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@irisink YES!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one! Thank you!!!!

[@jakubkub3178]

Quite simple stuff, but it does the trick very well

[@Evan64m]

@@irisink Danny Goffey from Supergrass is also really underrated imo

[@synthhero1347]

Yip he doesn’t get recognition he deserves

[@robertdavies234]

The best Welsh band ever. Any stereophonics fans out there, Don't bother to complain, you know you're wrong

[@Nutsaur]

@@ot7976 No Datblygu you!

[@Nutsaur]

@@ot7976 *DATBLYGU YOU!!!*

[@monthehoops64]

The best band ever.

[@HelenWaldron-g3s]

My sentiments precisely.X❤❤😅

[@conorkelly4953]

Kelly couldn't string james guitar

[@merseybeast76]

TOTP's most complaints (about 20,000) just because James wore a mask with his name on it . . . no complaints about Jimmy Saville reported

[@merseybeast76]

+Christy Dolan What self-respecting terrorist would walk around with his name emblazoned across his bally? It was a bit of theatre; yet the whole BBC establishment knew what the paedo's were up to yet no one complained. Priorities in this country are all arse over tit

[@merseybeast76]

+Christy Dolan if you type on here 'John Lydon interview 1978 Jimmy Saville' you will find that a snotty nosed young punk rock singer (among others who since have revealed they informed the police and BBC but were ignored) knew what Saville was up to but says they weren't allowed to talk about it. Listen to Half-man Half-biscuit's 1986 song 'I left my heart in Papworth General' with its references to Saville and ask yourself why he never sued them. I think you've been living in a bubble mate

[@calvin3005]

+merseybeast76 I also thought of Saville when thinking about the complaints! But I grew up in 80s, 90s, and heard nothing about Saville until it all came out - he was just that 'Jimll Fixit' guy to me, and I'm sure most people I knew were equally clueless. A kid in my class even complained that he wrote to JmllFixit 3 times and got no reply - I bet he doesn't regret the lack of response now!

[@underneonloneliness2]

merseybeast76 humans are stupid that's why

[@alpine_newt]

I'd been hearing rumours about Savile since the 90s but they were about morgues not kids.

[@manorbier]

The level of James' gorgeousness and masculinity is unbelievable!! 🔥🔥

[@EnglanE_]

Richey is utter perfection in that Sailor outfit. 😍🤤🔥

[@imcadam121]

Yeah.He was a pure soul in a polluted & corrupted world.Bless him.

[@DominicHarty]

Vic and Bob just in the back makes this one of the best videos ever.

[@georgegreenland7573]

James was pretty ripped in the 90s so he was most likely stronger than the people in Mensa

[@grasshopper6655]

The greatest performance of a song ever...from the GREATEST band of all time

[@devilsforkdigital1490]

Nah. That would be their heroes the Clash.

[@RajHK8]

The guitar is just the album track 😧

[@andrewwilliams4283]

Lol it's a track...only james is live

[@MartynParsonage]

It's just basically the album track, James isn't even pretending to play the guitar half the track 😂

[@BananaCologne]

@@andrewwilliams4283You forgot the vocals...

[@horstborscht7401]

Wow! As a non-British Manics fan, I never had the opportunity to see their old TOTP performances at that time. But watching this now you can clearly see that the audience were really fired up, dancing wildly and genuinely enjoying it - unlike with many other acts on TOTP you see from them days. It's like they really hit a nerve there with possibly one of the most unusual and psychologically sinister singles of the UK Top 20 ever.

[@Civilian2.0]

|Sadly, the TOTP audience we're just moved from stage to stage, so i doubt that many of them knew who the Manics actually were.

[@mgthestrange9098]

But maybe they went on too find out more about them after seeing this performance, I’d like to hear from someone who was in the audience. 😆

[@O.W.A.]

Sadly, TOTP "fans" had to pay to get in and had to "dance" or be ejected. I reckon Peterthomson13 is correct! 😒✌️ Edit: The Holy Bible is an epic album and The Manics WERE on fire! '94 - great days - sadly Richey was on his way out RIP! 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@somersetfan1]

Yep, I think the audience were just very young and very excited to be there

[@Tconcept]

@@somersetfan1 clearly none of you are from the UK, the fans are going nuts because the manics are amazing!!!

[@brendahastie2408]

this has to be the best thing that was ever on totp!

[@elsoss180]

Agreed

[@outsidersongs2682]

I agree

[@xx_poonisdestroyer69_xx17]

100%

[@stevechristie2569]

Brenda are you 23-35?

[@BrookeEvangelineWinter]

Ummmm.... Queen on TOTP was the best. Wtf.

[@Abuelo9]

Now it's hard to believe such songs could be aired on TV.

[@mgthestrange9098]

And in the top 40. All the top 40 songs sound the same now, there’s no variety, this was in the same chart with Take That, Boyzone and a load of dance stuff FFS!

[@corrielebon8216]

Great times.

[@stewux]

I remember watching this on TV at the time. I was into all the long-haired heavy metal shit at the time, but this changed my life in a big way! I reckon I wasn't the only one who watched TOTP that night and thought " what the fuck is this?! ". Straight away I was thinking the balaclava is gonna upset some people, plus I thought the song itself was absolutely fucking brilliant. I never looked back, it was the start of my switch from listening to nothing but Heavy metal, to broadening my horizons and widening my musical tastes.

[@serloinz]

pretty much the same for me..watching that night.. but instead of heavy metal i was brought over from the electronic side.. changed my life too :)

[@stuartcarden1371]

Yep! I was 9, so probably too young to change my life right then and there but I remembering thinking bloody hell. It'll stay with me forever and a few years later, when the manics came back with everything must go I was all over it

[@darrenmulcahy8019]

Rock pioneers from South Wales. I was born on same day as Richie 22 December 1967.

[@snooganslestat2030]

Most savage vocal/lyric combination.

[@cazb877]

I think I read somewhere they now use the balaclava as a tea cosy in their recording studio in Wales 😂 Awesome track too!

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

Kate Burgess typical James lol

[@ReeseChown]

The British media doesn't have the balls to air a group and a song like this anymore. Closest I ever got was BLACK MIDI at the awards show

[@ryanlovescath]

Only JDB would wear a balaclava on totp!! Love it, awesome song. "I've been too honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else".

[@synthhero1347]

Manics music will stand the test of time even 100yrw from now , their message is as relevant today as it was 30 yr ago

[@andrewleyden2752]

These guys are such legends.

[@williamhardwick4257]

If I’d known at the time, so many people were complaining about this performance, I’d have complained myself and got everyone I know to complain. Each and every complaint enhances the performances place in 90’s pop culture.

[@cyrilandshirley]

Check out Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer getting down at about 3:05! I have NO memory of that. But I remember everything else. Outstanding.

[@petermapp2865]

The most memorable TOTP performance ever. Epic

[@matth7952]

They use that balaclava as a tea cosy back in their studio in Cardiff now.

[@David-h4z2s]

Hope they washed it first 😅😂

[@HelenWaldron-g3s]

Hell yeah!!❤❤❤

[@SteveThePster]

Surely the best thing to happen on TV in the 90s. Incredible.

[@jackduncan4228]

This band (before Richey went missing) never got the recognition it deserved. The Holy Bible is up there with Nirvanas Nevermind or In Utero which came out around the same time. I remember listening to them both. I instinctively knew that Kurt Coibaine and Richey Edwards weren’t made for this world. I knew Richey had committed suicide and never believed the story that he was missing. It was a suicide I could see coming. Some years later my younger brother committed suicide. I’d spoken to him about it and alerted all my family about how badly he needed help. He refused help. Then one night he manufactured a huge argument that got his wife and my sister to leave the house. He hanged himself. The police found him and cut him down. I was in Scotland at the time. Three days later I was in Australia identifying the body. I had to see him. I needed the closure of seeing him one last time. I’ve attempted suicide twice. Once I smashed a Wild Turkey bottle (I was high on coke and Wild Turkey) and I dug the jagged broken bottle into my neck, ripping a hole in it and then ripping my chest open with it. I’d opened an artery in my neck. I went on the rampage booting doors in and smashing everything. My uncle who was down three flights of stairs heard the commotion and ran up the stairs and found me collapsed blood everywhere and jetting out of my neck on one of the stairs landings. He called an ambulance and I was rushed to hospital where I received blood transfusions and stitches. Then the last one I took an overdose of a major tranquilliser called Sodium Pentothal. I was living on a small horse farm with my brother. My father owned the horse farm. He kept goats and pigs and various other animals. He kept the Sodium Pentothal for putting animals to sleep. I got a hypodermic syringe and needle and diluted some of the pentathol powder in water and injected it. It was like immediate lights out. I woke up 16 days later from being in an induced coma. They had to keep me in a temperature controlled bubble and on a respirator. I was told that I would definitely have died if I hadn’t been found unconscious in the long grass by one of our red heeler cattle dogs. It howled and howled until my father came to get it and found me. The fact that he was a doctor probably helped too. Suicide wasn’t to be my way out. I’ve got to ride this ghost train to the last stop.

[@yootoobcelery]

man i feel for anyone that has lost someone through suicide , but seeing/hearing people romancing there own story up as if its a badge of honour, that shit hurts to see it boils my piss? a dont know maybe you dont see it that way but if its attention you want a hope you got or are getting the help you need.. a lost my best pal to suicide no sign, no warning, no note, no second attempts..

[@TheRoberino2001]

@Jack Duncan I don't think you're trying to romanticize anything, I think you are trying to tell your story as some kind of catharsis. People who have attempted suicide and survived feel a lot of stigma in telling their stories and although I agree that the best way for help is not by broadcasting it on the internet, I can agree with how the anonymity can give you an outlet to say what you need to say. Two of my best friends over 20 years have killed themselves. I have tried too, once that no one knows about and once that caused a hospitalization. Even now, four years later, only a small number know and most are straight up immediate family (because I had no choice.) I apparently have the constitution of an ox and overdose that would would have killed most folk but not me. This is not a brag but the truth, how things worked out. I'm not a big guy but I've built tolerance to a lot of substances, both prescription and illegal. We're both on this train brother, a lot of other people too. Our time isn't now. We have to try and focus on the good things in life, even if life is hard and those things are far and few between. I don't particularly enjoy life but I am physically healthy again and in comparison to people that have the opposite of these factors, we have to be thankful whether it feels good or not. I hope you are in a better place man. Can always talk to me if you want to, I will happily give you my email address. Also, I consider The Holy Bible by The Manic Street Preachers to be the best hard rock album of all time. Maybe that little thing gives us something else in common. All my love brother x

[@gabrieljones3306]

you can get through this bro all love ❤️❤️❤️

[@jackduncan4228]

Robin Buckley Thank you. I wasn’t trying to romanticise what’s happened in my life. I can see why people would come to that conclusion though. I just wanted to get some stuff off my chest and the anonymity of this forum helped out. I think we can understand each other. I really appreciate you sharing some of your story with me. You have a great taste in music. You’re right, I’ve learned to count my blessings even if I struggle to find much point in things I know I am blessed indeed compared to others. Thanks again for the kind words.

[@jackduncan4228]

Gabriel Jones Thank you.

[@stuartcarden1371]

This was the first time I saw the Manics. I would have been 9 (maybe 10 depending on the month) and it blew my mind! Didn't properly get into them for a few years after but I'll never forget this performance for as long as I live.

[@Requiredfields2]

I dare say this is where the Strokes got their sound along with Franz Ferdinand and the Killers.

[@porkpiepilgrim5302]

I remember watching this on the night and thinking, brilliant! This is only TOTP moment along with Adam And The Ants Dog Eat Dog that stays with me

[@lilacwine263]

Oh! Richey, my handsome sailor 😍💋❤

[@Panjangnya93]

lilacwine26 where richey james now😔

[@Roberto-nm8sw]

Absolutely and positively awesome.

[@porkpiepilgrim5302]

I remember watching this as it was aired. I was still in my 20s but with kids at this point. They made me want to live and be real!

[@nicolasmrn]

Manics songs give me chills, either studio versions or live versions.

[@OlafMcKrak]

saw them live Holy Bible... still Richie,... it was so good ... RIP Richie

[@AndreHopkins-z2c]

Love it. Love the balaclava too lol 😂🤘

[@retroaerosmith5983]

1.25 -1.32 probably the coolest dance ever by James

[@helenwaldron5858]

Forgot how just how cool. Yes! 👍😎

[@redemptiontime1684]

One of the best bands ever this bunch , just pure driven adrenaline fused anarchy , "kin luv it...

[@xgum]

one of the best live performances period

[@petergreen2552]

The British army wore balaclavas in the Crimean war, funnily enough at the battle of balaclava as it was so bloody cold. History is a great subject if you actually take it in

[@Monkeypole]

Yea but pretty sure balaclavas are more synonymous with a different army from around those parts.

[@conorsmith8551]

He was pointing out the irony ha

[@MiniLemmy]

Unfortunately, history is something that todays Woketards wants to cancel….

[@redearthpaul178]

Iconic performance

[@pearl.jasmine]

The random shots of Vic and Bob lol

[@richardoloot1295]

this is pure energy.

[@猫にゃんた]

自分にとっては マニックスが最高のパンクヒーローです。

[@oranjelibertine]

One of the most 90’s things I’ve seen!

[@oddreveries]

Legends! What a generation!

[@monthehoops64]

Generation terrorists 😜🤣

[@rigsby1454]

Incredible

[@VilettaLeBeau-re8mq]

Real HEROES! ❤

[@TheUruguay3050]

Brilliant band

[@dimitrispodilatis5814]

such an amazing performance!!!

[@calvin3005]

Is this live vocals and everything else the prerecorded track? That's how it looks and sounds to me - James seems to be singing, and everything else sounds like it does on the album.

[@stewux]

+calvin3005 Yep, I would say you're right there.

[@AThousandRoads]

That wouldn't surprise me, Richey Edwards, for all his merits, wasn't a very good guitar player.

[@WAR3600]

+Rob James It's not his fault actually, all perfomances in the Top of the Pops has only the singing live.

[@calvin3005]

***** Well Richey would often mime even in the 'live' sets! Or at least be pretty low in the mix

[@maxrobinson9553]

+UOR Then what is the drummer hitting? Surely he has to be the only live one because a singer can easily lip sync

[@薔薇薫麻美]

i remember this show..have seen this that 100 times.never got tired of it.amazing

[@jhart_9985]

Best 90s band about, Greatest Album The Holy Bible by far

[@foamywax1]

that is some tight drumming!!

[@anyexpat]

Touring the UK now seeing them in Glasgow, sounds of my youth thatI still love

[@andrehopkink9251]

Brilliant band. Never got the credit They deserved. Love them 👍

[@potsie7326]

They do but didnt then. On TOTP tonight.. great reviews.

[@CupidStunt0001]

MAN KILLS EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!

[@tinmenendez]

0:27 yes, me too.

[@themanalligator4813]

Amazing! This is proper music.

[@StringSun]

When music made you shiver

[@scully161280]

Legendary

[@manicstreetpreacher3822]

James Dean Bradfield cooler than ever!

[@horrorbusiness78]

Love the muscle flexing at the second chorus! Stronger than Mensa

[@helenwaldron5858]

I know i believe in nothing but it is not nothing! 👍👍👍👍👍👍✌️✌️✌️

[@SeahorsesJay]

Vic & Bob!!!

[@SentinelTera]

It was either this or the performance on Naked City, not sure which exactly but Faster was my road to Damascus moment. Bought my first ever single, became utterly obsessed. Saw them at Reading soon after, blagged a ticket for that fateful last night as a four piece at the Astoria in December. Since then, there have been bands I've loved but nothing close to the same level.

[@greigmartin9148]

James wearing a balaclava gave the perception he and the band sided with paramilitary and/or terrorist groups. Hence the reason this performance gained the most amount of complaints in Top of the Pops' entire history. 😎

[@jnicolson865]

The Manics are the best thing to come out of Wales since 1839.

[@monthehoops64]

Sleep cannot stop these thoughts flooding through my mind Ive been to honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else ❤

[@robertrainey3387]

My sweet, beautiful Abby brought me to this awesome place. What a handsome fellow with his little ski mask.

[@matts9250]

Welsh class right there 👆

[@RockstarrrrrYyyyyy]

manics 4ever xxx

[@angusmcintyre217]

thankyou for uploading this ... memories of "there best" ...

[@louisewilliams847]

class tune..

[@virgindie25]

we miss you Richey

[@RataStuey]

3:03 Vic and Bob!

[@tunkytunky]

makes me miss rock music

[@keithphilbin3054]

TOTP gold. 👍

[@Thetoon25]

I cannot imagine what it would have been like seeing this in 1994 on a Thursday night.

[@7heavenlyvirtues]

Brilliant!

[@vlandorrackhum5420]

3:03 is that Bob Mortimer? lol

[@HelenWaldron-g3s]

Way above the Brit pop act. Class... Pure ❤❤❤😂

[@SoulStylistJukeBox]

Utter brilliant.

[@greencatsick]

yessss the quality is so amazing compared to the other videos of this on youtube that were compressed by potatoes

[@SkylineTechnology]

What a bizarre but original performance. Its like the sex pistols and KLF. Holy Bible is art

[@astmatik]

4REAL

[@sablebasilisk7998]

it is THE highlight of 90’s till present day …..

[@cosmeticcarrepair]

I know I believe in nothing, but it is my nothing. Epic performance.

[@scorbieholic]

Good to see the reaction of kids when they hear proper music for the first time

[@patricka.crawley6572]

SLADE!!

[@ianhitman]

THIS MAKES ME WANT TO COMPLAIN TO THE BBC! GRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[@rolon-will3362]

This performance is 30 years old today! Ouch. The Holy Bible is an incredible record.

[@薔薇薫麻美]

YAY FASTER is my favorite all the time💜💜💜i love MANICS 4 ever. they are the best.

[@thedoubleoutoftrouble]

Vic reeves about 28 secs in giving it some 🤣🤣? Manics such a brilliant band ❤️👍

[@jumhed994]

ToTP for a while had a weird policy of demanding live vocals. James is singing live, the instruments are from the single version. Check out Nirvana's ToTP performance of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. Kurt taking the complete piss out of the policy.

[@BrookeEvangelineWinter]

that's false.

[@Starj1984]

It's absolutely true. One easy way to tell, look at the drum kit - no microphones (if it was live there would be a mic on each drum and 2 or 3 mics overhead).

[@sangirardiecavicchi648]

Brilliant

[@markgreet3543]

Full of angst, amazing band.

[@MattJames1958]

25,000 complaints. Love it!