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168 Songs of Hatred and Failure: A History of Manic Street Preachers
'A forensic exploration of their compositions and recordings, and everything that has been poured into them . . . completely definitive' MOJO ★★★★★
The story of Manic Street Preachers is unique in pop. Raging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, they were seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial failure and personal despair. The story took a further agonising twist when the tragedy of Richey Edwards' 1995 disappearance was followed by a remarkable rebirth, built upon 'A Design For Life' - a hymn to the band's working-class roots - and then the award-winning, multi-million-selling album Everything Must Go, a majestic soundtrack to history and loss. Within five years, Manic Street Preachers were playing to 60,000 at the national stadium of Wales and had their second UK Number 1 single. Subsequent output has confirmed the band as both a wellspring of restless creativity and a barometer of the cultural conversation.
Because it was music that saved them, it's through the prism of their music that Keith Cameron tells the definitive history of Manic Street Preachers, drawing on many hours of new interviews to dive deep into 168 songs, from 1988 debut single 'Suicide Alley' to the late day peaks of 2025 album Critical Thinking. Writing with the band's full co-operation, his book charts the dynamic evolution of a universe in which Karl Marx and Kylie Minogue happily co-exist, that accords Rush and The Clash equal favour, and where Morrissey & Marr meet Torvill & Dean via Nietzsche and New Order in a single four-minute pop song - all in the name of what Nicky Wire himself calls 'the fabulous disaster' of Manic Street Preachers.
The story of Manic Street Preachers is unique in pop. Raging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, they were seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial failure and personal despair. The story took a further agonising twist when the tragedy of Richey Edwards' 1995 disappearance was followed by a remarkable rebirth, built upon 'A Design For Life' - a hymn to the band's working-class roots - and then the award-winning, multi-million-selling album Everything Must Go, a majestic soundtrack to history and loss. Within five years, Manic Street Preachers were playing to 60,000 at the national stadium of Wales and had their second UK Number 1 single. Subsequent output has confirmed the band as both a wellspring of restless creativity and a barometer of the cultural conversation.
Because it was music that saved them, it's through the prism of their music that Keith Cameron tells the definitive history of Manic Street Preachers, drawing on many hours of new interviews to dive deep into 168 songs, from 1988 debut single 'Suicide Alley' to the late day peaks of 2025 album Critical Thinking. Writing with the band's full co-operation, his book charts the dynamic evolution of a universe in which Karl Marx and Kylie Minogue happily co-exist, that accords Rush and The Clash equal favour, and where Morrissey & Marr meet Torvill & Dean via Nietzsche and New Order in a single four-minute pop song - all in the name of what Nicky Wire himself calls 'the fabulous disaster' of Manic Street Preachers.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
554 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2025
62 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 16, 2025
This is not a book for a casual fan of The Manics. This is a book for someone who knows every album track, every b-side, every cover version, basically everything to do with The Manics. Which is me
I found this such an interesting and entertaining read. It's in depth about 168 Manics songs from the big hits to the lowly b-side to the extremely rare and obscure. As someone who has been obsessed with the band since 2000 it was a joy to read the band explaining how a song was written or who came up with the guitar or strings. And it was nice to read so much about Richey again even though I found it so sad (he disappeared in 1995 and was legally declared dead about 12 years later)
Recommended for hardcore Manics fans
I found this such an interesting and entertaining read. It's in depth about 168 Manics songs from the big hits to the lowly b-side to the extremely rare and obscure. As someone who has been obsessed with the band since 2000 it was a joy to read the band explaining how a song was written or who came up with the guitar or strings. And it was nice to read so much about Richey again even though I found it so sad (he disappeared in 1995 and was legally declared dead about 12 years later)
Recommended for hardcore Manics fans
March 11, 2026
3.5 Stars!
The Manics were one of those great 90s British rock bands, along with the likes of Oasis and The Wildhearts who not only earned a reputation as being a great live band and producing a succession of great albums, but were also that rare entity who made a genuine effort to craft a great run of glorious b-sides. The joy and experience of bringing home a new single/EP by one of these band and then coming across another gem or two…or in some cases even three if you were really lucky, was a real treat.
You wouldn’t need to be a hardened music critic to note that the standard and quality of the Manics output for the last thirty years has been patchy at best, I’d say that levels plummeted after their fourth album and have never really recovered as they churned out one bland and mediocre album after another and unfortunately you could argue that they have turned into exactly what they never wanted to be – Rich, bloated middle-aged rock stars living off their past achievements.
So this book certainly has its flaws, but it should please and confuse most Manics fans. The reasoning behind the book title is both tenuous and non-sensical?...I was excited to see that they had included some quality photographs, until I realised that half of them were dedicated to pictures of the band’s old musical instruments, many of them broken?...Anyone who likes the Manics knows that they were originally known for their visual impact and never ever for their outstanding musical proficiency. So to squander so much precious photo real estate on crappy, battered old instruments is a real bum note…Thankfully the second half of photos, were of more interest with various images of the band, mostly from their heyday, but still a real opportunity missed.
Cameron does a decent enough job, but seems to run out of musical comparisons and falls into merciless repetition with seemingly half of the Manics back catalogue being compared to U2, R.E.M, New Order or Simple Minds as well as Stuart Adamson’s various bands. So although I enjoyed this I was also a bit disappointed by the shortcomings, so a bit of a mixed bag – a very easy read, but there’s something missing?...
The Manics were one of those great 90s British rock bands, along with the likes of Oasis and The Wildhearts who not only earned a reputation as being a great live band and producing a succession of great albums, but were also that rare entity who made a genuine effort to craft a great run of glorious b-sides. The joy and experience of bringing home a new single/EP by one of these band and then coming across another gem or two…or in some cases even three if you were really lucky, was a real treat.
You wouldn’t need to be a hardened music critic to note that the standard and quality of the Manics output for the last thirty years has been patchy at best, I’d say that levels plummeted after their fourth album and have never really recovered as they churned out one bland and mediocre album after another and unfortunately you could argue that they have turned into exactly what they never wanted to be – Rich, bloated middle-aged rock stars living off their past achievements.
So this book certainly has its flaws, but it should please and confuse most Manics fans. The reasoning behind the book title is both tenuous and non-sensical?...I was excited to see that they had included some quality photographs, until I realised that half of them were dedicated to pictures of the band’s old musical instruments, many of them broken?...Anyone who likes the Manics knows that they were originally known for their visual impact and never ever for their outstanding musical proficiency. So to squander so much precious photo real estate on crappy, battered old instruments is a real bum note…Thankfully the second half of photos, were of more interest with various images of the band, mostly from their heyday, but still a real opportunity missed.
Cameron does a decent enough job, but seems to run out of musical comparisons and falls into merciless repetition with seemingly half of the Manics back catalogue being compared to U2, R.E.M, New Order or Simple Minds as well as Stuart Adamson’s various bands. So although I enjoyed this I was also a bit disappointed by the shortcomings, so a bit of a mixed bag – a very easy read, but there’s something missing?...
December 28, 2025
'168 Songs of Hatred and Failure – A History of Manic Street Preachers’ (2025) by Keith Cameron, does what it says on the tin.
Cameron is an author and music journalist (formerly of Sounds and the NME) who first met the Manics back in 1994 and inter interviewed them many times subsequently. Here he draws on hours of new interviews and selects key songs from throughout their now lengthy career, from 1988s 'Suicide Alley's right up to selections from their 2025 and current album 'Critical Thinking' and devotes a short chapter to each one, invariably with contributions from singer James Dean Bradfield and bassist Nicky Wire.
As a long time fan of the Manic Street Preachers (from the first time I saw them live back in 1991) - Cameron's book sheds fascinating light on the songs herein, providing context and source inspiration throughout, talking us through from their first somewhat shaky and exploratory steps in music, then the incendiary 'Generation Terrorists' through the dark masterpiece that is 'The Holy Bible', the cataclysmic disappearance of Richey James (as well as the loss of other musical collaboraters and family members along the way) to their subsequent survival and return, finally through the musical path they've trodden to date.
Whilst '168 songs' is not a book for the casual fan or those who are merely curious about the songs and career of the Manic Street Preachers, it is admittedly somewhat forensic in terms of it's approach - for those who are interested enough, there's lots to learn about the band, their songs and their career as a whole. It's a fascinating read and extremely well written by Cameron, who clearly has a keen eye in terms of understanding the music of the Manic Street Preachers as well as an obvious appreciation.
One key thing that I found extremely refreshing throughout '168 Songs' is the honesty of the band about many of their songs which they felt they'd not done justice to, or even that they should have been omitted from respective albums - which apart from being refreshingly honest and modest, displays an integrity running through their career.
Cameron is an author and music journalist (formerly of Sounds and the NME) who first met the Manics back in 1994 and inter interviewed them many times subsequently. Here he draws on hours of new interviews and selects key songs from throughout their now lengthy career, from 1988s 'Suicide Alley's right up to selections from their 2025 and current album 'Critical Thinking' and devotes a short chapter to each one, invariably with contributions from singer James Dean Bradfield and bassist Nicky Wire.
As a long time fan of the Manic Street Preachers (from the first time I saw them live back in 1991) - Cameron's book sheds fascinating light on the songs herein, providing context and source inspiration throughout, talking us through from their first somewhat shaky and exploratory steps in music, then the incendiary 'Generation Terrorists' through the dark masterpiece that is 'The Holy Bible', the cataclysmic disappearance of Richey James (as well as the loss of other musical collaboraters and family members along the way) to their subsequent survival and return, finally through the musical path they've trodden to date.
Whilst '168 songs' is not a book for the casual fan or those who are merely curious about the songs and career of the Manic Street Preachers, it is admittedly somewhat forensic in terms of it's approach - for those who are interested enough, there's lots to learn about the band, their songs and their career as a whole. It's a fascinating read and extremely well written by Cameron, who clearly has a keen eye in terms of understanding the music of the Manic Street Preachers as well as an obvious appreciation.
One key thing that I found extremely refreshing throughout '168 Songs' is the honesty of the band about many of their songs which they felt they'd not done justice to, or even that they should have been omitted from respective albums - which apart from being refreshingly honest and modest, displays an integrity running through their career.
March 21, 2026
I’ve been a Manic Street Preachers fan since June 1992. More than thirty years in which not a week goes by without listening to their music. Keith Cameron’s book is exactly what I needed to understand this band I’ve known for so long even better.
Cameron chooses a brilliant approach: 168 songs as a lens through which to view the complete history of the Manics, from ‘Suicide Alley’ (1988) to their recent album Critical Thinking (2025). Each chapter dissects a song completely - the sources of inspiration, the literary references, how lyrics and music came together, what the band themselves think about it. The thoroughness is overwhelming. You don’t read this book in one sitting; you take your time with it. I read a chapter each day, listened to the music on Spotify or YouTube (even tracks I’d heard a hundred times before), watched live performances, and added the referenced books to my Goodreads list. The book makes you curious, exactly as the Manics themselves have always done.
What makes this book so valuable is the candour with which James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire speak. They reflect on their work without ego, admit where they have regrets (like that notorious Lennon line), are critical of albums that were commercially successful but which they weren’t satisfied with (Know Your Enemy), and show how their collaboration has endured for forty years. No rock mythology full of excess and drama, but two level-headed men from Blackwood who remember everything because they didn’t have drink or drug problems. That self-reflection, that wisdom, that honesty - that’s what makes this book special.
Cameron shows how unique the Manics are. Four boys from a Welsh mining village who were inspired by music, literature and art, and translated that hunger for ideas into urgent, political, emotionally layered music. They stand on the shoulders of giants - The Clash, The Who, ABBA, Pink Floyd, Orwell, Camus, Jacques Derrida - but give them their own twist. And they remain relevant, from Generation Terrorists to now, because their songs are always about something. No superficial love songs (though they eventually write something close to one: ‘Further Away’), but music for critical thinkers.
The book is particularly strong on the early period - The Holy Bible receives the attention it deserves as that ruthless, brilliant album about the failure of humanity - but the later albums are also treated with respect. The band is visibly prouder of their recent work, and rightly so. Albums like Lifeblood and Rewind the Film, which have meant a great deal to me personally during difficult times, receive the recognition they deserve here.
This is a book for devotees. Don’t read it if you don’t know the band, do read it if you really want to get to know them. With the band’s full cooperation, Cameron has written a book that isn’t a biography full of salacious details and shallowness, but rather the opposite: substance, depth, respect for the art.
Five stars for the thoroughness, the references, the fact that it’s so well written and remains relevant. A book I’ve read for months and will continue to derive pleasure from for years. Just like the music of the Manics themselves.
Cameron chooses a brilliant approach: 168 songs as a lens through which to view the complete history of the Manics, from ‘Suicide Alley’ (1988) to their recent album Critical Thinking (2025). Each chapter dissects a song completely - the sources of inspiration, the literary references, how lyrics and music came together, what the band themselves think about it. The thoroughness is overwhelming. You don’t read this book in one sitting; you take your time with it. I read a chapter each day, listened to the music on Spotify or YouTube (even tracks I’d heard a hundred times before), watched live performances, and added the referenced books to my Goodreads list. The book makes you curious, exactly as the Manics themselves have always done.
What makes this book so valuable is the candour with which James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire speak. They reflect on their work without ego, admit where they have regrets (like that notorious Lennon line), are critical of albums that were commercially successful but which they weren’t satisfied with (Know Your Enemy), and show how their collaboration has endured for forty years. No rock mythology full of excess and drama, but two level-headed men from Blackwood who remember everything because they didn’t have drink or drug problems. That self-reflection, that wisdom, that honesty - that’s what makes this book special.
Cameron shows how unique the Manics are. Four boys from a Welsh mining village who were inspired by music, literature and art, and translated that hunger for ideas into urgent, political, emotionally layered music. They stand on the shoulders of giants - The Clash, The Who, ABBA, Pink Floyd, Orwell, Camus, Jacques Derrida - but give them their own twist. And they remain relevant, from Generation Terrorists to now, because their songs are always about something. No superficial love songs (though they eventually write something close to one: ‘Further Away’), but music for critical thinkers.
The book is particularly strong on the early period - The Holy Bible receives the attention it deserves as that ruthless, brilliant album about the failure of humanity - but the later albums are also treated with respect. The band is visibly prouder of their recent work, and rightly so. Albums like Lifeblood and Rewind the Film, which have meant a great deal to me personally during difficult times, receive the recognition they deserve here.
This is a book for devotees. Don’t read it if you don’t know the band, do read it if you really want to get to know them. With the band’s full cooperation, Cameron has written a book that isn’t a biography full of salacious details and shallowness, but rather the opposite: substance, depth, respect for the art.
Five stars for the thoroughness, the references, the fact that it’s so well written and remains relevant. A book I’ve read for months and will continue to derive pleasure from for years. Just like the music of the Manics themselves.
December 3, 2025
An absolute pleasure. I think your mileage will correlate strongly with how well you know the songs (and the band) already; for me this is my favourite Manics book yet. It'd be even better if Cameron had found more synonyms for 'motorik', mind.
January 22, 2026
4.75 stars. This was an absolute joy from start to finish. I looked forward to picking this up every single day. Cameron clearly loves The Manics as much as his readers are presumed to, and his enthusiasm is infectious. I wouldn't recommend this doorstop (approx. 550 pages hardcover) to most causual Manics fans; whilst all singles are covered (and, let's be honest, it's already hard to care about something like Empty Souls), there's extensive coverage of B-Sides and hidden tracks throughout the titular 168 songs (one-six-eight - a reference to Motown Junk's "168 seconds").
I have a complicated relationship with the band, but this book reminded me what was so captivating about them that first time around - a philosophy informed by Old Labour Socialists with Marxist leanings, and at the centre, the Glamour Twins: Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire spouting verbose "fuck you"s, wrapped in the glam-punk-genderfuck aesthetic of the New York Dolls. That look is Delin catnip regardless of what you've got to say (See: Hanoi Rocks), so the occasional slogan they'd throw out that was to my liking: "hospital closures kill more than car bombs ever will"; "working class clichés start here, either cloth caps or dope victims", even simply "under neon loneliness, motorcycle emptiness" were a bonus. Many forget that The Manics used to be bona fide leftists, and have since shifted away from politics of the state and towards a more personal kind of politics. Recent attempts to tackle politics on a state level have sparked occasional moments of brilliance (2013's 30 Year War) though remain inconsistent, but there's a case to be made that their political work has always been inconsistent in quality. Despite this, my intregue remains; one could build a curriculum of several years on Manic Street Preachers' art and literary references alone. As stated in the introduction, The Manics may be the first band to have inspired more academics than musicians.
I have a complicated relationship with the band, but this book reminded me what was so captivating about them that first time around - a philosophy informed by Old Labour Socialists with Marxist leanings, and at the centre, the Glamour Twins: Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire spouting verbose "fuck you"s, wrapped in the glam-punk-genderfuck aesthetic of the New York Dolls. That look is Delin catnip regardless of what you've got to say (See: Hanoi Rocks), so the occasional slogan they'd throw out that was to my liking: "hospital closures kill more than car bombs ever will"; "working class clichés start here, either cloth caps or dope victims", even simply "under neon loneliness, motorcycle emptiness" were a bonus. Many forget that The Manics used to be bona fide leftists, and have since shifted away from politics of the state and towards a more personal kind of politics. Recent attempts to tackle politics on a state level have sparked occasional moments of brilliance (2013's 30 Year War) though remain inconsistent, but there's a case to be made that their political work has always been inconsistent in quality. Despite this, my intregue remains; one could build a curriculum of several years on Manic Street Preachers' art and literary references alone. As stated in the introduction, The Manics may be the first band to have inspired more academics than musicians.
January 19, 2026
Superb.
An in-depth exploration of the songs of the Manics which sheds light on the political, philosophical and cultural influences on the (often obtuse) lyrics and also highlights the musicality of the band members with some real insights into how much work was put into getting the feel and tone and sound of the songs right.
There were a few songs I wish had been included but that's a minor grumble. This was an excellent approach to telling the story of a band I've loved from their first album (I actually really like Know Your Enemy too) and has made me appreciate them even more.
Highly recommended.
An in-depth exploration of the songs of the Manics which sheds light on the political, philosophical and cultural influences on the (often obtuse) lyrics and also highlights the musicality of the band members with some real insights into how much work was put into getting the feel and tone and sound of the songs right.
There were a few songs I wish had been included but that's a minor grumble. This was an excellent approach to telling the story of a band I've loved from their first album (I actually really like Know Your Enemy too) and has made me appreciate them even more.
Highly recommended.
February 9, 2026
I like how this doesn't focus too much on the actual story of the band because Simon Price's book does that perfectly. It delves into each song from the initial thought to the last time it was performed. I will say that some of the details about the specific influences aren't as interesting for someone my age who hasn't listened to or heard of those bands, but it was SO interesting when I did know the band, Simple Minds, McCarthy...
Keith really got the band to reveal some really interesting stuff without seeming like he's relying too much on quotes. I also love the contextual information about the social climate when the record was recorded, even if it isn't directly mentioned in the song; it's a must when being retrospective.
My only critique is down to preference. A lot of my favourite songs aren't mentioned, and too many newer songs took their place. However, Kieth did make songs I didn't like as much still sound very interesting. I thought I would get bored halfway through this book after I stopped liking the records, but it's good to have the information. However, there isn't any table of contents or appendix to find the songs easily or to see what was and was not included. That's my biggest critique; they made it quite hard for easy referencing.
Overall, I will read this book again in the next decade. Great work Kieth.
Keith really got the band to reveal some really interesting stuff without seeming like he's relying too much on quotes. I also love the contextual information about the social climate when the record was recorded, even if it isn't directly mentioned in the song; it's a must when being retrospective.
My only critique is down to preference. A lot of my favourite songs aren't mentioned, and too many newer songs took their place. However, Kieth did make songs I didn't like as much still sound very interesting. I thought I would get bored halfway through this book after I stopped liking the records, but it's good to have the information. However, there isn't any table of contents or appendix to find the songs easily or to see what was and was not included. That's my biggest critique; they made it quite hard for easy referencing.
Overall, I will read this book again in the next decade. Great work Kieth.
February 12, 2026
Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…
…that I don’t want to learn what I might like from an algorithm, but from widely read, broad thinking humans like the Manics! An amazing journey through a huge back catalogue, the first parts that were strangely in step with my life from the album feels too? Hope, despair, anger, love, loss, desolation - I mean it’s just all in there if you take the time to listen and I shall be enjoying this playlist for a long time to come
…that I don’t want to learn what I might like from an algorithm, but from widely read, broad thinking humans like the Manics! An amazing journey through a huge back catalogue, the first parts that were strangely in step with my life from the album feels too? Hope, despair, anger, love, loss, desolation - I mean it’s just all in there if you take the time to listen and I shall be enjoying this playlist for a long time to come
January 17, 2026
I didn’t realise how much I wanted to read a book about the stories behind creating these songs. It’s refreshing to read about the influence behind the songs or why James picked one of his many guitars over another rather than the tales of early band drama which have been covered so often. You can tell Keith loves the band and he was exactly the right person to do it. My signed copy is currently residing in a list of top 5 non-human possessions to be rescued from a burning building should the need ever arise…
December 29, 2025
Essential reading for a fanboy (like me), with loads of well-researched detail and (best of all) extra nuggets of gossip/trivia. This works best around the early work Generation Terrorists to The Holy Bible and then Journal For Plague Lovers.
Being picky, I would have preferred the book to have included more of the early material rather than, say, just about every track in Resistance Is Futile (m resistance was flagging at this point).
However, that aside, this is a fantastic book for the dedicated Manics fan.
Being picky, I would have preferred the book to have included more of the early material rather than, say, just about every track in Resistance Is Futile (m resistance was flagging at this point).
However, that aside, this is a fantastic book for the dedicated Manics fan.
November 27, 2025
This is great, really well researched. As others have said you need to be a big fan of the Manics and know their back catalogue to fully appreciate it so was brilliant for me
October 7, 2025
I've followed Manic Street Preachers ever since their first album Generation Terrorists back in 1992. Now 15 studio albums later it's always an event when they release a new album and I've seen them live more times than I can remember.
168 Songs of Hatred and Failure is a history of Manic Street Preachers through 168 of their songs, from the more well-known to b sides and other rarities. The title is taken from a scrapped album title 70 songs of Hatred and Failure so it was recycled for this book.
For any Manics fan it's a treasure trove giving the background to many of their songs. It sheds light onto the songwriting process as well as giving insight into some of the meanings behind the lyrics. It's a fascinating journey as the band have evolved musically and lyrically over the years.
I was interested in reading the sections that deal with Richey Edwards the bands lyricist (along with Nicky Wire) for the bands first few albums. Richey read vastly and this came out in his lyrics. He was also a troubled man and the section dealing with the bands third album The Holy Bible can be hard at times. It's a searingly bleak album with a some dark subject matter that reflected Richey's state of mind.at the time. Sadly he disappeared on the day before he was due to fly to the States on a promotional tour in 1995 and hasn't been seen since. He was legally declared dead in 2008.
The book charts the evolution of the band through their songs. They are a band of contrasts and in some ways contradictions. A band where Karl Marx and Kylie Minogue sit side by side, influences range from The Clash to ABBA and while they dislike getting associated with Britpop and the rock stars who visited Tony Blair at number 10 they were more comfortable visiting Cuba and shaking hands with Fidel Castro (Bass player and lyricist Nicky Wire is quoted in the book as saying the only interview he ever backed out of was at that time as he knew he would find it hard to justify how he could shake hands with a communist dictator). But then they could also write a song looking sympathetically at Richard Nixon (For The Love Of Richard Nixon),
The book is written with the blessing of the band and it gives some fascinating insights. Over the years they have developed, they have had rough patches and glorious triumphs. Their music is incredibly eclectic but their lyrics always thought provoking, often enigmatic, but these insights into 168 of their songs is often illuminating.
This isn't a book for a casual listener to their music. I dont think it would hold the interest, it really is one for the fans. The song by song analysis is really fascinating as it charts a band who may have become more mainstream as the years have gone by (and that's not a criticism) but how many bands could make and album as unrelentingly bleak as The Holy Bible (still a tough listen today despite some amazing songs) and then follow it up with the anthemic Everythjng Must Go that catapulted them to a mainstream audience. And they still hold the record for most complained about song on Top of the Pops when James Dean Bradfield wore a balaclava when they played "Faster" it generated 25,000 complaints when people misinterpreted it as support for the Irish paramilitary.
A great read for people who are familiar with the music of Manic Street Preachers, not as an introduction to the band.
168 Songs of Hatred and Failure is a history of Manic Street Preachers through 168 of their songs, from the more well-known to b sides and other rarities. The title is taken from a scrapped album title 70 songs of Hatred and Failure so it was recycled for this book.
For any Manics fan it's a treasure trove giving the background to many of their songs. It sheds light onto the songwriting process as well as giving insight into some of the meanings behind the lyrics. It's a fascinating journey as the band have evolved musically and lyrically over the years.
I was interested in reading the sections that deal with Richey Edwards the bands lyricist (along with Nicky Wire) for the bands first few albums. Richey read vastly and this came out in his lyrics. He was also a troubled man and the section dealing with the bands third album The Holy Bible can be hard at times. It's a searingly bleak album with a some dark subject matter that reflected Richey's state of mind.at the time. Sadly he disappeared on the day before he was due to fly to the States on a promotional tour in 1995 and hasn't been seen since. He was legally declared dead in 2008.
The book charts the evolution of the band through their songs. They are a band of contrasts and in some ways contradictions. A band where Karl Marx and Kylie Minogue sit side by side, influences range from The Clash to ABBA and while they dislike getting associated with Britpop and the rock stars who visited Tony Blair at number 10 they were more comfortable visiting Cuba and shaking hands with Fidel Castro (Bass player and lyricist Nicky Wire is quoted in the book as saying the only interview he ever backed out of was at that time as he knew he would find it hard to justify how he could shake hands with a communist dictator). But then they could also write a song looking sympathetically at Richard Nixon (For The Love Of Richard Nixon),
The book is written with the blessing of the band and it gives some fascinating insights. Over the years they have developed, they have had rough patches and glorious triumphs. Their music is incredibly eclectic but their lyrics always thought provoking, often enigmatic, but these insights into 168 of their songs is often illuminating.
This isn't a book for a casual listener to their music. I dont think it would hold the interest, it really is one for the fans. The song by song analysis is really fascinating as it charts a band who may have become more mainstream as the years have gone by (and that's not a criticism) but how many bands could make and album as unrelentingly bleak as The Holy Bible (still a tough listen today despite some amazing songs) and then follow it up with the anthemic Everythjng Must Go that catapulted them to a mainstream audience. And they still hold the record for most complained about song on Top of the Pops when James Dean Bradfield wore a balaclava when they played "Faster" it generated 25,000 complaints when people misinterpreted it as support for the Irish paramilitary.
A great read for people who are familiar with the music of Manic Street Preachers, not as an introduction to the band.
December 25, 2025
Not exactly the cheeriest of book titles but ah well.
I am a big Manics fan and from all their phases: from their glam rock debut, their stadium friendly albums to the vituperative Richey (who is either deceased or missing, you choose) dominated ones
Journalist Keith Cameron believes that a song tells a story and examines 168 of them as milestones The Manic Street Preachers history, which is quite varied. As for evidence there are interviews with the band and the book has their endorsement.
I have read other bios about the band so here I was hoping I’d learn new things and I learnt a lot mostly about Richey and Nicky’s contributions and the hidden meanings behind a lot of their songs.
As I expected there is bias: The Holy Bible and Journal for Plague Lovers get a lot of page space while the more ear friendly stuff less so. It’s still a insightful read and I recommend it for fans of the band
I am a big Manics fan and from all their phases: from their glam rock debut, their stadium friendly albums to the vituperative Richey (who is either deceased or missing, you choose) dominated ones
Journalist Keith Cameron believes that a song tells a story and examines 168 of them as milestones The Manic Street Preachers history, which is quite varied. As for evidence there are interviews with the band and the book has their endorsement.
I have read other bios about the band so here I was hoping I’d learn new things and I learnt a lot mostly about Richey and Nicky’s contributions and the hidden meanings behind a lot of their songs.
As I expected there is bias: The Holy Bible and Journal for Plague Lovers get a lot of page space while the more ear friendly stuff less so. It’s still a insightful read and I recommend it for fans of the band
January 8, 2026
Assessing a band's career song by song has been a successful template - Ian McDonald's Beatles opus Revolution in the Head is one of my favourite books full stop. As a band with a lot of baggage (not purely a negative phrase by any means), the Manics have a body of work that stands up to this kind of forensic analysis. Keith Cameron is a name I recognised from my years of reading Q and, briefly, NME. While not one of the writers I really loved, he proves himself here to be more than equal to the challenge of explaining and contextualising this often obtuse and challenging material.
Simon Price's Everything, the previous high watermark of Manics books, functions as more of a love letter. Although Cameron clearly adores the band, he's put together a clear-eyed analysis that's unafraid to put the boot in where necessary. None of this would have been possible without James, Sean and Nicky's full co-operation, natch, and Cameron's new interviews are revealing and fascinating. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as they amply demonstrate here.
The 'P' word is often deployed in relation to the Manics, even by fans like me when we see their knottiest and most insanely intellectual lyrics laid bare on the page. But 'pretentious' has become a sorely misused word, usually deployed as an insult against people whose ideas we don't agree with. As 168 Songs... demonstrates, MSP are many people's worst nightmare - a bunch of angry working class lads from the provinces (not even the English provinces!) who are most likely both way more intelligent than you and ferociously proud of it.
Some minor quibbles:
The undecided (or those who only know the band from Everything Must Go onwards) need not apply. Although they may have proclaimed they'd never write a love song (a rule they've certainly broken), reading this book makes you realise that an awful lot of their tracks are about Nicky Wire being grumpy. And the device of the band looking back on their earlier works from today's perspective kind of splutters to a halt once we get to the more recent material. I have to admit to checking out around the time of Resistance is Futile, and while I wouldn't accuse the Manics themselves of checking out, they admit to being in their managed decline phase and therefore the book runs out of momentum well before the end.
Ultimately, though, this is a band who've consistently refused to sit on their laurels, often reaching for the moon, often crashing and burning. The failures are as fascinating as the high points, which is probably the reason I love them so much.
Simon Price's Everything, the previous high watermark of Manics books, functions as more of a love letter. Although Cameron clearly adores the band, he's put together a clear-eyed analysis that's unafraid to put the boot in where necessary. None of this would have been possible without James, Sean and Nicky's full co-operation, natch, and Cameron's new interviews are revealing and fascinating. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as they amply demonstrate here.
The 'P' word is often deployed in relation to the Manics, even by fans like me when we see their knottiest and most insanely intellectual lyrics laid bare on the page. But 'pretentious' has become a sorely misused word, usually deployed as an insult against people whose ideas we don't agree with. As 168 Songs... demonstrates, MSP are many people's worst nightmare - a bunch of angry working class lads from the provinces (not even the English provinces!) who are most likely both way more intelligent than you and ferociously proud of it.
Some minor quibbles:
The undecided (or those who only know the band from Everything Must Go onwards) need not apply. Although they may have proclaimed they'd never write a love song (a rule they've certainly broken), reading this book makes you realise that an awful lot of their tracks are about Nicky Wire being grumpy. And the device of the band looking back on their earlier works from today's perspective kind of splutters to a halt once we get to the more recent material. I have to admit to checking out around the time of Resistance is Futile, and while I wouldn't accuse the Manics themselves of checking out, they admit to being in their managed decline phase and therefore the book runs out of momentum well before the end.
Ultimately, though, this is a band who've consistently refused to sit on their laurels, often reaching for the moon, often crashing and burning. The failures are as fascinating as the high points, which is probably the reason I love them so much.
October 30, 2025
168 Songs of Hatred and Failure by Keith Cameron is a wonderful history of Manic Street Preachers told through the backstories from many of their songs.
I was first introduced to the band by an exchange student when I was in college in about 1992/3. Have followed them ever since. But you don't have to belong to any exclusive club of longtime fans to appreciate this book, anyone with an interest in music, and especially where music intersects with social and cultural issues, will find a lot to appreciate here.
That said, some familiarity with their music makes it even more enjoyable. If you're a casual fan or aren't familiar with them (which is more likely in the US than some other countries) this will be an excellent introduction to them. The only thing I would remind you of is that their music has changed and evolved over time, so if you're less crazy about a couple of their early songs give the later ones a chance.
One advantage of a song-by-song breakdown, even though every song of theirs isn't covered, is that you get specific comments about why something was done at that point and some commentary about why they might have done something different earlier or later.
While any fan of Manic Street Preachers will enjoy this book, those who have an interest in seeing how songwriters find ideas and then turn them into songs will enjoy this a great deal. Don't let some reviews convince you that you have to belong to a secret club with a special handshake to enjoy the book, there is no club and many people will enjoy this and likely become fans.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I was first introduced to the band by an exchange student when I was in college in about 1992/3. Have followed them ever since. But you don't have to belong to any exclusive club of longtime fans to appreciate this book, anyone with an interest in music, and especially where music intersects with social and cultural issues, will find a lot to appreciate here.
That said, some familiarity with their music makes it even more enjoyable. If you're a casual fan or aren't familiar with them (which is more likely in the US than some other countries) this will be an excellent introduction to them. The only thing I would remind you of is that their music has changed and evolved over time, so if you're less crazy about a couple of their early songs give the later ones a chance.
One advantage of a song-by-song breakdown, even though every song of theirs isn't covered, is that you get specific comments about why something was done at that point and some commentary about why they might have done something different earlier or later.
While any fan of Manic Street Preachers will enjoy this book, those who have an interest in seeing how songwriters find ideas and then turn them into songs will enjoy this a great deal. Don't let some reviews convince you that you have to belong to a secret club with a special handshake to enjoy the book, there is no club and many people will enjoy this and likely become fans.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 12, 2025
This is a book for fans.
That isn't to denigrate the book - it's really well written with access to new information so that even for fans, this provides more information than was previously available.
If you are really interested in music then it explains really well how these records were created, from conception to production. But it is a long book, if you aren't a fan of the band then even if you're really interested in music making then I'm not sure how much you'd be willing to work all the way through it.
This tells the story of the Manic Street Preachers - but it primarily tells the story of their music.
If you are not a fan then you should probably take a star off the rating, if you are not a fan of how music is made then you should take another star off.
But if you are a fan then this is a masterpiece. The author has access to information and, importantly, can write well enough to convey that information that makes it the perfect companion piece to Simon Price's book.
A well written but probably not very exciting book for non fans of the band who are not that interested in how music is made.
A well written but maybe slightly too long book for those interested in music making.
A well written 'must have' for the fans.
That isn't to denigrate the book - it's really well written with access to new information so that even for fans, this provides more information than was previously available.
If you are really interested in music then it explains really well how these records were created, from conception to production. But it is a long book, if you aren't a fan of the band then even if you're really interested in music making then I'm not sure how much you'd be willing to work all the way through it.
This tells the story of the Manic Street Preachers - but it primarily tells the story of their music.
If you are not a fan then you should probably take a star off the rating, if you are not a fan of how music is made then you should take another star off.
But if you are a fan then this is a masterpiece. The author has access to information and, importantly, can write well enough to convey that information that makes it the perfect companion piece to Simon Price's book.
A well written but probably not very exciting book for non fans of the band who are not that interested in how music is made.
A well written but maybe slightly too long book for those interested in music making.
A well written 'must have' for the fans.
March 4, 2026
Superb. Just a joy to read.
Tails off slightly towards the end (probably from Journal for Plague Lovers), where there is just less to say - the changes in style are less dramatic and the places and personnel involved in the recordings have settled. That's not entirely a judgement on the music - the parts on Resistance is Futile (which I don't care for) were as interesting as the parts on Futurology (which I liked) or Postcards (which I love).
Perhaps also, it's a little too soon for the band to really come to a critical judgement on those songs, as they were able to for earlier work (one of my favourite aspects of the book).
I particularly liked picking up on the musical influences during the 90s (I'm young enough to come to everything before TIMT in retrospect, so it was interesting to delve into the inner workings of "Pantera meets NIN" and so on). I'm a lot less interested in Simple Minds than James Dean Bradfield, but that was still interesting for the later work.
Tails off slightly towards the end (probably from Journal for Plague Lovers), where there is just less to say - the changes in style are less dramatic and the places and personnel involved in the recordings have settled. That's not entirely a judgement on the music - the parts on Resistance is Futile (which I don't care for) were as interesting as the parts on Futurology (which I liked) or Postcards (which I love).
Perhaps also, it's a little too soon for the band to really come to a critical judgement on those songs, as they were able to for earlier work (one of my favourite aspects of the book).
I particularly liked picking up on the musical influences during the 90s (I'm young enough to come to everything before TIMT in retrospect, so it was interesting to delve into the inner workings of "Pantera meets NIN" and so on). I'm a lot less interested in Simple Minds than James Dean Bradfield, but that was still interesting for the later work.
December 30, 2025
A very interesting read, especially if you're a fan. I would count myself as a pretty big Manics fan from back in the day but have to admit I haven't listened to the more recent albums as much. This book has rekindled my love for this band and got me to go back and rediscover those albums (alongside the older albums that I still love). It's refreshingly honest but that's what you would expect from the Manics. Yes it's a tad pretentious but that's kind of what you would expect from a book like this about a band like this.
January 16, 2026
While I have always liked the Manic Street Preachers, I’m no super fan, however this beautiful and rigorous book is not really just about this band. Across the 168 songs covered you doscover it is really about how real, true artists burst into life and then evolve through that rare mix of talent, bravery, work ethic and a stubborn dedication to each other. A must ready for music lovers and anyone who enjoys peaking behind the curtain and glimpsing the alchemy of art being created at the highest of levels.
January 7, 2026
As soon as this was announced, it was the only thing on my Christmas list. And I wasn't disappointed.
The appeal of the Manics, for me, has always been that their songs are almost always about something (and musically inspired by some record I've never heard); so this book's song-by-song layout is perfect focusing more deeply on that stuff. A fantastic document of one of the last great bands standing.
The appeal of the Manics, for me, has always been that their songs are almost always about something (and musically inspired by some record I've never heard); so this book's song-by-song layout is perfect focusing more deeply on that stuff. A fantastic document of one of the last great bands standing.
March 15, 2026
terrific deep dive into some excellent songs by the Manics. All the members contribute and give a lot of insight into the lyrics, playing, and surroundings of the songs. Only for Manics fans i would say, you won't be disappointed .Highly recommended.
November 27, 2025
had the best time ever reading this. absolutely incredible. i fucking love this band.
November 30, 2025
incredible book about one of my favourite bands. there truly isn't a more intelligent, more well read band in the whole british isles than the manics.
December 20, 2025
Essential reading if you love the Manics. Plenty of insight particularly on the Holy Bible era material.
January 28, 2026
Wonderful book, a fascinating insight into the song writing process of this amazing band I have loved for over 25 years. Their musical genius and intelligence shine through on every page !
January 30, 2026
Fascinating, but missing some key songs that would have been interesting to dive deeper into.
January 31, 2026
A must for every (relatively die hard) Manics fan.
February 3, 2026
Excellent.
February 23, 2026
A fascinating book about the creation of Manic Street Preacher singles/albums, it’s almost a history of the band as well. As a Manics fan I loved this book.
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