Random Manics thoughts...

[LA ex]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Ah thanks. That site is a nightmare to navigate on a smartphone. Although the drop of 14 weeks for SATT to 5 for JFPL caught my eye. So SATT was the last shot at mass communication!

How music is digested and promoted has clearly changed significantly over the past twenty years, but worth remembering that YLAINE was a number two chart his - I suspect it was the last Manics single to be playlisted by Radio 1. The Manics were still a pretty major draw across the generations then - I suspect fifteen year olds in 2007 would vaguely know who they are, nowadays they wouldn't have a clue.

[Tish]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Ah thanks. That site is a nightmare to navigate on a smartphone. Although the drop of 14 weeks for SATT to 5 for JFPL caught my eye. So SATT was the last shot at mass communication!

JFPL was massively uncommercial project though, no singles released and the only promo I remember them doing was Later and an interview/documentary with Channel 4 News. 5 weeks wasn't bad considering.

Postcards came out a year later, with a full promo campaign and that went back to 9 weeks on the album chart.

Looking at that site really does highlight what an absolute bomb Lifeblood was. Only 3 weeks on the chart with the highest position number 13! And in 2004, when people actually bought albums.

[Europa Gluten Free]

Sean actually speaking? (in an article at least). Randomly pooped up in a Google search:

https://www.musicradar.com/news/drum...eachers-639070

Bloody awful article! Ha!

[Europa Gluten Free]

On a separate Manics random note: why did they have the percussion guy in 2003? (I am watching Glastonbury gig. It is bloody awful (the percussion idea, not the gig).)

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by Tish

JFPL was massively uncommercial project though, no singles released and the only promo I remember them doing was Later and an interview/documentary with Channel 4 News. 5 weeks wasn't bad considering.

Postcards came out a year later, with a full promo campaign and that went back to 9 weeks on the album chart.

Looking at that site really does highlight what an absolute bomb Lifeblood was. Only 3 weeks on the chart with the highest position number 13! And in 2004, when people actually bought albums.

I used to have a Guinness Book Of Albums and THB was originally three weeks. However, due to anniversary editions it's now gone up to 11.
EMG still leading in front.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

On a separate Manics random note: why did they have the percussion guy in 2003? (I am watching Glastonbury gig. It is bloody awful (the percussion idea, not the gig).)

My guess is:

When they started playing bigger venues in the late '90s, they became dissatisfied with the live sound and tried different ways to fill out the sound, especially on songs that need more than just the basic guitar bass and drums setup. I seem to remember they approached a second guitarist in 2005 with a bit of trepidation, and we all know how much a keyboard could occasionally sound like a fairground.

I *think* they had the percussionist on the Forever Delayed tour too and I assumed at the time they were just trying to have a professional touch to an arena hits set.

[scott_laconia]

It was Greg Haver wasn't it?

[Routine Builder]

Guy Massey did the guitar for the Lifeblood and PPF tours and Greg Harver did percussion for FD and LT tours.

[UEF]

Always thought they sounded more fun with 1 guitar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAK1XG35C7Y

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by UEF

Always thought they sounded more fun with 1 guitar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAK1XG35C7Y

Um that is so cool. Sean's drumming and James sound fantastic!

And the rotating green light on them is amazing.

[Europa Gluten Free]

The version of Masses from that session is amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEjrQj_QYg

Did we ever find out why James sometimes sings "baby" on the chorus after the solo? He does it a lot but never got the answer!

[UEF]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

The version of Masses from that session is amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEjrQj_QYg

Did we ever find out why James sometimes sings "baby" on the chorus after the solo? He does it a lot but never got the answer!

Just something to give it a bit of extra oomph for the last chorus, like screaming more on ADFL. Artists like Katy Perry tend to do this quite a lot, out adlibs on the last chorus

[Routine Builder]

Remember how bad Masses used to sound before adding a second guitarist? Would really love to know what thought process resulted in no guitar being played for the verses, and that it be good idea to replace it with circus organ. I still think the band really found their groove when Guy Massey joined the touring band.

https://youtu.be/vJyJGcI1n9g?si=sUGKBDJV1KlB6_Fn

[*Found That Soul*]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

The version of Masses from that session is amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEjrQj_QYg

Did we ever find out why James sometimes sings "baby" on the chorus after the solo? He does it a lot but never got the answer!

I’ve always wondered why he’s never sung the last chorus correctly before? Even the early live performances before it was released.

[Scarecrow]

One last reference to this conversation a few pages back:

Originally Posted by LA ex

The Past Present Future tour remains one of my favourite Manics gigs - actually gig by anyone.

Well I didn't attend the first night of that tour in Southampton, but it's 20 years ago today since I trundled down to Derby for the Assembly Rooms gig (then Wolves Civic two days later). One of the best and most pleasantly surprising Manics gigs I've ever attended. Hard to believe it was half my life ago already.