Manic Street Preachers

U.K. rock institution Manic Street Preachers function as a fiery rebuke of the placid state of British indie rock. Inspired by the provocative punk of the Clash and the heavy glam of Guns N' Roses, the Manics wed leftist politics with arena-filling guitar riffs, a combination that has made them irresistible to both the British rock press and the record-buying public. The group's rise ran parallel to the ascendency of Brit-pop, but just when they were at the cusp of stardom, lyricist/guitarist Richey James disappeared after the release of their early masterwork The Holy Bible. ...