The self proclaimed 'most political band around...'

[jenvidg]

I assume Wire isn't too interested in compressing his thoughts into 140 characters, which seems to be the limit of people's attention span these days, unfortunately.

Who knows, if he had a chance to talk about politics throughly and on a proper platform he might do it, but why bother now as "no-one" will read it anyway. And in the end all that would be left of it are those damn 140 characters as someone quotes him (probably out of context) and everything ends up being confusing and for nothing. People would go on accusing him of being a "champagne socialist" - after all he's made a proper living and therefore isn't allowed to comment on social issues anymore. The rich bitch. So yeah, why bother saying anything when in general people aren't interested in listening / reading anyway.

These days everything has to be fast, simple and easily digestible, fit for the rapidness of social media. That, in my humble opinion, doesn't really go hand in hand with interesting political statements.

[Lindz Delirium]

Just to clarify, I asked Wire what his take was on the EU referendum, not how he voted.

[relic]

Originally Posted by Lindz Delirium

Just to clarify, I asked Wire what his take was on the EU referendum, not how he voted.

Aye, that's true, but it's clearly how he interpreted the question.

He's never really wanted to talk politically. I think he loves politics as a process, in an academic way, but he's never really got stuck in publicly, outside of his lyrics, has he? Anyone who is expecting him to stand on the barricades and wave a flag wasn't listening to 'Tolerate'.

As for his lyrics ... if you want to know how he feels, then 30 Year War pretty much makes things clear .. 'These verses at attention stand'.

He uses the best tool he has for political purposes ... the Manics, and their work. It's enough. He makes more of a difference than most, and it's unfair to ask for more.

[Futurologist]

I agree with both relic and jenvidg and I've said as much on my twitter.

The vote was a secret ballot, no one apart from you needs or can demand to know how you voted. Nicky might be 'political' but that doesn't mean he needs to broadcast his opinions on every single political event. Ok, this is a rather important one, but perhaps he's as flummoxed as the rest of us?

As Jen said twitter isn't really built for an in depth political discourse. I think the Manics and especially Nicky use it primarily for promotional stuff linked to tour and records. They aren't political commentators. Though I will take on board they do use it to tweet about sport rather a lot, but that's not exactly controversial and politics do get controversial.

I can understand why Nicky didn't answer the 'political' questions in Lindz' questionnaire or in the article with Gruff. One swiftly given answer is then preserved in perpetuity and can be taken out and quoted out of context or it was true at one particular time and place, but isn't relevant anymore. I can just see the NME pouncing on any comments about Jezzer Corbyn: 'Manics slam/support Corbyn' and that's not fair based on what might have been two sentences written hastily at the end of a long day.

Nicky obviously has an interest in politics, look at his conversation with Tony Benn a few years ago. That platform was far better to talk politics, he could actually discuss and lay out how he thinks in a way that isn't possible on twitter.

As fans, we have no right to demand to know either how Nicky or the other two voted or what his political opinions are. They're a band, not a political party. They need to make some more music not give us political platitudes. They band as a whole don't owe us anything, not even any new music unless they want to.

Would I like a big old rant from Wire on what's currently happening? Would I like to know what he thinks? Yes, but I'm not holding my breath nor expecting that.

I am expecting new material in about a year though Wire. Make it so.

[UEF]

I'd imagine Nicky and the others have gotten more c/Conservative as they got older.

[roi]

Well they have been touring playing to massive crowds with their biggest hit songs about working class identity, consumerism, and anti-fascism. These songs are older obviously but still relevant. And looking at that interview archive in MSPedia, there are actually a lot of interviews with James being pro-EU. I do wish they'd say/do more about specific issues now, specifically around the EU stuff this year, but the stuff they've done in the past still resonates.

[relic]

Originally Posted by UEF

I'd imagine Nicky and the others have gotten more c/Conservative as they got older.

Why should they have done? I certainly haven't.

[sculptureofabloke]

Originally Posted by Porco

All We Make Is Entertainment.

Originally Posted by Porco

Are they supposed to pass comment on politics every day or Nicky's degree will be revoked or something?

I wouldn't actually object to them issuing opinions on everything under the sun every day, but I think it would get a bit annoying for them and I'd rather they saved anything they felt strongly about for some songs later on.

Nicky hasn't got a Politics Degree, Richey's got two.

Yeah, I'm not sure what people expect really. There are plenty of bands out there who hardly ever touch on politics at all. Plus, they've got a song about the Spanish Civil War to number one. Surely that alone makes them one of the most political mainstream bands of all time? When it came out I'd never even heard of the Spanish Civil War, eh I was 15 at one of the worst schools in the country and wasn't being taught history. On the other hand, maybe them getting to number one does undermine the effort, success is an ugly word you know.

I think the problem is their own doing in a way. They've always spoke highly of education and they've cited a hell of a lot of material from their own and other people's educations. The education thing, which I do respect, wasn't something that really drew me towards them when I got into them. Yeah, I went to uni eventually but my education was fucked from the start really, the level of ambition from the teachers at my school was to teach us to avoid prison... Anyway, soz I digress, how un-academic of me But yeah, I think a lot of fans expect more, too much even. Gobshite as Wire may be, you can't know everything. They're political, more political than most established bands, but not political enough for their fans. Maybe they should've split up after that first album...

[relic]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

Nicky hasn't got a Politics Degree, Richey's got two.

[sculptureofabloke]

Originally Posted by relic

Seriously! They've been quite open about Richey writing Nicky's essays, Nicky's undermined the integrity of academia by cheating. At least I had the decency to drop out, he should be disqualified really. Mind you, it is politics, lying and cheating are pretty commendable/essential in politics.

[andy]

You also have to look at where the band are.

Post THB pre EMG they were not well off. ADFL is envied with social politics. Onto TIMT they continued with social politics. KYE was amateurish and immature in lyrical content, 6th grade politics trying to find their roots

But they were the most political when Richey was in the band and when they were young. Since the mid 90s they have been financially set got life without needing to earn another penny. It's hard to be political and have the fire when your a millionaire

[relic]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

Seriously! They've been quite open about Richey writing Nicky's essays, Nicky's undermined the integrity of academia by cheating. At least I had the decency to drop out, he should be disqualified really. Mind you, it is politics, lying and cheating are pretty commendable/essential in politics.

I was agreeing with you. Nicky's always talking about it, but I reckon he exaggerates a bit to big Richey up.

[hummingbird]

I don't really believe richey wrote all his essays ... maybe read through one or three and told him to change stuff . Also Nicky would've had to sit his own exams .. he's never said richey wrote his final dissertation either as far as I know

[roi]

Originally Posted by andy

You also have to look at where the band are.

Post THB pre EMG they were not well off. ADFL is envied with social politics. Onto TIMT they continued with social politics. KYE was amateurish and immature in lyrical content, 6th grade politics trying to find their roots

But they were the most political when Richey was in the band and when they were young. Since the mid 90s they have been financially set got life without needing to earn another penny. It's hard to be political and have the fire when your a millionaire

Sorry, but I totally disagree. Money has nothing to do with not being political or not being left wing - Tony Benn was born into wealth, for a start.

And I know Postcards from a Young Man isn't their most liked album but for an album that's from just over five years ago it's one of their most blatantly political - songs about New Labour (Golden Platitudes), austerity (All We Make Is Entertainment, Auto-Intoxification) and keeping your principles (the title track).

[sculptureofabloke]

Originally Posted by andy

You also have to look at where the band are.

Post THB pre EMG they were not well off. ADFL is envied with social politics. Onto TIMT they continued with social politics. KYE was amateurish and immature in lyrical content, 6th grade politics trying to find their roots

But they were the most political when Richey was in the band and when they were young. Since the mid 90s they have been financially set got life without needing to earn another penny. It's hard to be political and have the fire when your a millionaire

Maybe harder but not impossible, certainly not if you've got memory or compassion. I think as they've got more comfortable they've developed a decent mix between the political side and the more tender and introspective side of the band. Rewind The Film being the perfect example, 30 Year War is the most political song they've written in years yet overall the album has that introspective feel to it. Plus you've got the videos, more so Rewind The Film and Anthem For A Lost Cause - both very community focused, which is something that has been lost in a lot of areas because of politics. So in a sense, that's political too.

Originally Posted by relic

I was agreeing with you. Nicky's always talking about it, but I reckon he exaggerates a bit to big Richey up.

Oh aye I know, I just fancied a mini rant.

Originally Posted by hummingbird

I don't really believe richey wrote all his essays ... maybe read through one or three and told him to change stuff . Also Nicky would've had to sit his own exams .. he's never said richey wrote his final dissertation either as far as I know

Not saying Richey wrote all his essays, just that he had a helping hand that he shouldn't have, you're supposed to do these things yourself.