Me, Richey & The Manic Street Preachers

[halcy0nzombie]

Originally Posted by backstagerider

Okay. In the back of the car, on the way back to the hotel, Richey asked me "Will you be as dirty as the girls were in Finland?". It was crass. It didn't impress me. I reconsidered going back with him. I didn't answer him.

Right, so in my head I just heard Bambi say that. I hate you brain and I hate you whoever in Stay Beautiful MADE THAT GODFORSAKEN CONNECTION.

/stops spamming now/

[Slideling]

I can only speak for myself, but the issue for me isn't just what people say about RICHEY, I got annoyed as much by people who wanted to impress me by saying they met Nicky, or queued for a gig or whatnot. It's almost like... treating the Manics as material possessions kind of thing. On the other hand I know fans that the Manics mean something to them, and truly enjoy it if they spend some time with them. Maybe it's because I've been here for a long time, but when I first joined, I did get the sense that there's a bit of a competition about seeing them live and sort of false getting 'close' to them.

[Embla Claymore]

@Backstagerider: I really appreciate your reply and again I agree with what mausoleum_rent has just said, so I won't reiterate.

Instead, I'll come out and say that I think I understand where you're coming from. I used to work in the music business and press, although I was involved with a completely different genre.
I've met and worked with tons of bands, I've been backstage, I've spent time with them on the tourbus, I slept in their houses and I even ended up having a relationship with a couple of band members... I have some great (and some not so great!) memories/stories of touring with them etc. I have pictures...

But I would never ever put up a website and write them all down or go to one of those bands' forum and start a random thread telling a bunch of strangers about that time when me and xxxx did this and that. Sorry I don't see the point (but that's just me of course!).
My press assignments with the bands have been printed in the magazines or websites I was working for and that's obviously fine, but everything else like the dinners, the BBQ parties, the nights on a couch watching movies, the talks, the personal relationships, are noone's business. I don't think I'll ever feel the need to share any of that, even if one of those people should vanish or pass away.

As far as I'm concerned you certainly do not need to apologize for what you did (certainly not to us, who are we anyway!!) and you've perfectly explained your reasons -that was pretty much a must instead, everyone was bound to ask you why!- which I understand, but do not agree with. Respectfully!

Finally, just for the sake of conversation... what he said sounds pretty ugly (and no, I'm not shocked, nor does it shatter any preconceived idea I have of Richey, as I said, I've spent my fair amount of time with all sorts of musicians, I know too well how some of them act.... especially on tour!) I would've probably 'excused myself' and left...!

[mafiamonroe]

Originally Posted by halcy0nzombie

Sorry for being all SUPER SRS HERE but actually I'd say they do contribute to Richey's 'legacy' because they help ensure that everyone is left with a more well rounded and ultimately a more realistic view of who Richey was.

I see nothing sad about someone writing on their experiences meeting Richey. However maybe er, publishing it on his presumed date of death wasn't the best decision ever. Oh well.

I agree with the first part of this post. I get a bit fed up with the way some people treat Richey as though he was just a waiflike little boy and not a grown man with a sex drive. Nicky gets treated in a similar way but to a lesser extent.

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by backstagerider

It's a bit crass so prolly best if I leave it out.

You know?? I don't wanna sound rude but I changed my mind: I give a flying fuck about what he said or not said.

So you can leave that way, no hard feelings at all.

[Cassie]

I don't want anybody to tell me ok? cause Im not going to read past posts... just lets leave it there.

[Embla Claymore]

just stay away from the last few lines in post #46!

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by BlackStone

just stay away from the last few lines in post #46!

ok, hun thank u for the warning =)
Luv ya.

[Embla Claymore]

Originally Posted by Cassie

ok, hun thank u for the warning =)
Luv ya.

uh? don't know if someone cancelled a post or what, but now it's actually post #45!

[Lowri]

I don't really see why people are getting so worked up over this. She's just telling a story about a time when she hung out (yes I know there's more but it's not really the point) with a Manic. Older fans have shared stories about Richey as well. It's not like her story was disrepectful or anything. Meh, I dunno. I just don't see it as anything to get annoyed about.

[lampandbook]

I think it's one thing knowing, in a general sense, that Richey was a bit of a slut, and another to read someone's personal account of a night with him. But that's the case with anyone - I've had friends who were happy to have one night stands, and I was happy for them to be happy to have one night stands, but I didn't want to hear the details afterwards!

I think it's gorgeous that so many people want to protect what we still have of Richey, but sometimes the way in which people protect him clashes; some want to keep his memory alive by sharing every moment they spent with him with the world, others want all the less savoury stories kept locked away. Both are absolutely valid ways of keeping Richey with us, and once you've decided which way you wanna do it, there shouldn't be a problem. If you - like me - don't want to read the stories, don't read them. It's tempting, of course it is; after all, it's a NEW Richey story. But I know it'll just bring me down, so I don't go there. I have my Richey - we all have our own Richey - and I'm happy to keep him as I remember him. I'm sure some of the stories that have appeared over the years are very flattering and very sweet - others, I'm sure - are less so, but they're all just not for me. However, I appreciate that other people love 'em. Each to their own... Rich would have enjoyed the dichotomy, I'm sure. And probably would've called me a wuss

[Lowri]

Yeah I get what you mean about the 'not wanting to know' thing but I didn't think she'd gone into detail or anything.

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by Lowri

I don't really see why people are getting so worked up over this. She's just telling a story about a time when she hung out (yes I know there's more but it's not really the point) with a Manic. Older fans have shared stories about Richey as well. It's not like her story was disrepectful or anything. Meh, I dunno. I just don't see it as anything to get annoyed about.

I guess I have said it before, it takes a lot to annoy me or upset me. These kind of things can't upset me that much, sorry. I was just saying that I didn't wanna know and that's all there is to it and a very beautiful person told me not to read an especific post =)

Pwwff I wish I could get annoyed easily =(

[backstagerider]

Thanks for the really considered and considerate replies - glad people are kinda getting the gist of where I was coming from. My art is my writing. My writing is about my experiences. By inserting personal experiences (to your point, @Blackstone) about hanging out with bands, it can a) make a story seem more tacky and attention seeking or b) to other eyes, add a different spin to the usual dry, journalistic article interview. I did a pretty straightforward one with Nicky which I also linked to in that story. Not to gloat, but actually because I like what Nicky had to say about Richey and JFPL. And as everyone is pointing out, it's all relative and it's all personal - and so to the people who found it an interesting account, thanks. To the people who found it distasteful, yeah, I totally get that.

For the record, I don't think the piece came across too "gloaty" - but what I had been hearing, particularly from people out here on the West Coast is that because the Manics hadn't toured NA in TEN years, many fans hadn't actually ever seen Richey etc. So you've got to factor in that dynamic - that some North Americans were actually and quite simply curious about what type of guy he was (ie, a mostly normal young band guy out on some pretty big Euro tours when I met him getting lots of attention from naive and idealistic chicks like myself, lol. Though, really, I wasn't even sure until I was in the van what the hell I was doing! And still shake my head and "tsk tsk" myself

Anyway, I'm here to be open. Anybody wants to know more I'm happy to share a bit more. Anybody who wants to know less, I'll see what I can do (And anybody who wants to get a vibe for my other kind of music writing can always check out the site and see what I'm going for. I always welcome new friends on there or on Twitter @backstagerider

Thanks...great viewpoints x
Ever done something bonkers when you were younger? 'Course you have!

[Cassie]

This thread is really starting to scare me more than annoying me... sorry I won't come back here again *lol*