Quote:
Originally Posted by sofarsideways
(Post 2677412)
Nicky absolutely must have come up with the nickname Teddy Edwards when in his 20s. And hallucinated a whole load of games of football. And been using ‘going to Richey’s house’ as a constant cover for covert ballet lessons (OMG MINING TOWN BILLY ELLIOTT HASHTAG CONSPIRACY). And chosen to transfer to Swansea from Portsmouth uni by sticking a pin in a map at random. And and and and etc forever
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LOL! Sadly, I believe there is some truth to them not being friends as children. I think Richey and Nicky knew each other, but I don't think they were best friends at the time. From what I've read over the years and the version of events Nicky has pretty much told since Richey left, it sounds like Nicky only really started to get close with Richey in uni and that his friendship with James and Sean came through Nicky.
Personally, I'm not bothered that she mentions that they weren't childhood friends, what pisses me off is the tone and context in which she says it! It's typical of the jabs she's taken at the band over the years except now because she has a product to sell, her derision is more subtle. Oh and that bit about Sleepflower is beyond contemptible and quite frankly, lazy! That Guy fellow who did the interview with her released earlier this week, was on social media doing damage control telling people that never in his life has he seen anyone put so much research into a book as she has. Really Guy? Maybe if you bothered to do your own research rather than fawning over this woman, you'd see how flawed that argument is...on many levels! For whatever reason, her assertions are not being challenged by those interviewing her (the Times book review being the exception. They too were baffled by the hate the band obviously gets in the book), but I'd like to point out that with the larger publications and their bigger readership, she hasn't been as biting in her criticism of the band which suggests that she does care that this book sells despite her claim that as long as she does right by Rachel, she's ok with everything else. Yeah sure! lol! Although, I am a bit miffed as to how alienating the very people that will likely be the only audience for this book, is “doing right by Rachel”? It would seem to me that publicly slating the band would do more harm than good in promoting this book. While I have great sympathy for Rachel and what she and her family have been through, is this a book to promote her brother’s legacy or is this merely a vanity project for both of them?
Man, this is THE worst interview yet! I just don't understand what the band has done to warrant this attack on them as a band and especially as people! They hardly pulled a Pink Floyd move on Richey which is the vibe I'm getting from both SHR and his sister. The Manics have done more to promote Richey's work and keep his memory alive than anyone else has. His father obviously understood this, but that doesn't seem enough. Whether they like it or not, Richey's legacy is inextricably tied to the Manics and always will be. There may be a few people here and there that have no interest in the band beyond him like SHR, but the vast majority of his current fans and future fans will be drawn to him as part of the band because he never really did anything outside the band. That's not a slight against him, it's just how it was/is. I think SHR sees him as a Syd Barrett type where his legacy can transcend the band he was in, but there's a vast difference between who Syd Barrett was and who Richey Edwards was. A less obsessive fan of both artists would be able to see that clearly.
Oh and one final thing, in regards to the Opulence/Bugs Bunny binder and whether or not he intended the written content to be songs, I'm looking at the JFPL reproduction booklet right now and the very first page, in Richey's unique handwriting reads, "these songs are in no particular order of preference although some lyrics are obviously better than others...All is Vanity, etc". Also, with some lyrics like Jackie Collins Existential (Question Time), he's put "CHORUS" or "BRIDGE" on the document. Why include those musical terms if he didn't intend for these words to be made into songs? Apparently though, this book was HEAVILY researched. Lol!
Btw, on a personal note, reading the various posts that have been made by many of you over the past few weeks has made me nostalgic for challenging conversations surrounding the Manics. Some dude was on one of the FB Richey pages the other day carrying on that someone who knew someone who once knew the band said that Richey was a heavy narcotics user possibly including heroin and that he used to frequent prostitutes in the Cardiff red light district after he hired that prostitute in Thailand. Despite this guy offering no tangible evidence, people went with it. I found it distasteful, regardless if this info was true or not, that nobody questioned this fellow and just went with such salacious gossip. I thought to myself, is this what Manics fans have become? Then I come on here and read your posts and I realize that all is still right with the Manics fandom. :)