In the last two decades, The Manic Street Preachers have established themselves as one of the UK's most enduring, intelligent and credible rock groups, with nine Top Ten albums, 16 Top Ten singles, three Number Ones and a brace of Brit Awards. But that quest for greatness has seen the band follow a difficult, sometimes torturous path, with one of their number - the gifted yet deeply troubled Richey Edwards - abandoning that quest altogether for destinations still unknown. "Nailed to History" traces the slow yet inexorable climb of the South Wales band from their late 80s origins as glam punk inspired, though critically derided 'Generation Terrorists' to their current position as respected art rock intellectuals - a fact underlined by 2009's award winning, "A Journal For Plague Lovers". It also examines the life and complex personality of Richey Edwards, whose highly politicised, morally disquieting wordplay defined much of the Manics' early appeal - his personal demons writ large across 1994's 'dark masterwork', "The Holy Bible". Edwards' evermore extreme behaviour culminated in his sad, strange disappearance on February 1, 1995 and forced the colleagues he left behind to re-examine their very purpose before making a triumphal return with 1997's million selling "Everything Must Go". "Nailed to History" features new interviews with those closest to the band, a full discography and rare and unseen pictures of the band.

Author Biography

Author Martin Power has previously written books on Aerosmith, Shane McGowan and David Sylvian - all published by Omnibus Press. He lives in London.