Something Awful's opinion on Nicky Wire

[ManicsTheHedgehog]

"I pondered for a while (3 minutes while playing Tetris) whether to include one or both of the Manic Street Preachers' "controversial" lyricists / stage props, but I'll settle on Nicky Wire since (a) Richey Edwards was actually insane, whereas Nicky was just annoying, and (b) Every single thing he's done since Richey disappeared has sucked horribly, and there's nobody else to shoulder the blame. If you haven't heard much from The Manics, it's because nobody in America liked them, prompting Mr. Wire to proclaim that "America is crap", making you wonder why he wanted to tour there in the first place. This is just one of the many instances which have put Nicky Wire in the running for the coveted "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Talking out Your Arse" award, where he is currently tied for 2nd place with the guy who wrote Neon Genesis Evangelion [Is this some sort of anime joke? Please, Richard, this is a good letter, don’t ruin your credibility just yet. –Dave]. Other great Nicky Wire moments include:
- Claiming his band would break up after releasing one album which would outsell Appetite for Destruction. It didn't outsell AFD, but their "Farewell" single made a lot of money, so what was he to do but make a follow-up? And another and another and another...

- Wearing a dress and eyeliner on stage, filling his album sleeves / lyrics with out-of-context "intellectual" quotes, constantly posing for photographs made up to look like Gary Numan, and claiming to be a socialist / communist / anarchist / democrat whenever the mood suited him. He then wrote a song called "No Surface, All Feeling".

- Some of the most clumsy, embarrassing "smart" lyrics ever. "Into the vein exhibit the derelict / Secular mosaic distracted at birth / A cubist abstraction let it live forever". No, seriously, those are actual lyrics.

- Some of the lamest non-John Mayer lyrics ever. "The censorship of my skin / is screaming inside / and from within / There's no room in this world for a girl like me". There are more articulate livejournals than this.

- When founding member / co-lyricist Richey Edwards disappeared (presumed dead), what better way to honour his memory than by releasing yet more albums without him? Bonus round: With nobody to shoulder the blame, we can be assured that above lyrics are 100% Nicky.

- Turning from an androgynous punk-rock "Generation Terrorist" into an AOR-playing, white suit-wearing, strolling-along-the-beach-like-Boyzone middle-aged prat so fast he actually broke the sound barrier.

- Shoving in a cynical "I AM STILL AN AGRY PUNK" song on each album of said AOR shite.

Lowest Point: In a desperate attempt to regain credibility, he debuted an album in Cuba, featuring a song about Elian Gonzales (which is sure to age well). Oh, and Castro was in the audience. DOWN WITH AMERIKKKA NO BLOOD FOR CIGARS!

Mitigating Factor: Unlike Richey, he won't be eulogized as the embodiment of the Tragic Poet (tm)."

I decided to post this here as i've just found it and wanted to hear some thoughts on it.

[sofarsideways]

I love you so much Wire. ^___^

[Bryter Layter]

OMG, I laughed when I read this!

TBH, the vast majority of these criticisms are true especially the bit about the lyrics. Most of them ARE truly crap, but then again, some are quite brilliant too. 'Golden Platitudes' in particular is a great example of Wire at his finest as a lyricist. The line "Why colonize the moon/When every different kind/Of desperation exists?" is ace! So simple, yet really touching.

On the other hand however, what this individual seemingly fails to realize is, Wire's 'ways' maybe nauseating to him (I'm going to assume the author is a male), but to his legions of fans, those are the very things they love about him. At the end of the day, that's pretty much all that matters in terms of his membership in MSP.

On a personal note, I really wouldn't call myself a Wire devotee, but I must admit that one of the best things about him - and what this fellow conveniently ignores - is that out of all the Manics including Richey, he is the only one I would actually call a feminist. He gets an A+ from me for that. Well done Wire, well done!

[Porco]

Originally Posted by ManicsTheHedgehog

I decided to post this here as i've just found it and wanted to hear some thoughts on it.

"meh", "I don't even...?!", "hmm", "eh?", "huh?", "and...?", "nonsense", "ohhh... kayyyy... "oh, look, a squirrel!" and "meh".

I think that covers most of my thoughts on it, though not necessarily in that order

[sculptureofabloke]

Originally Posted by ManicsTheHedgehog

- Wearing a dress and eyeliner on stage, filling his album sleeves / lyrics with out-of-context "intellectual" quotes, constantly posing for photographs made up to look like Gary Numan, and claiming to be a socialist / communist / anarchist / democrat whenever the mood suited him. He then wrote a song called "No Surface, All Feeling".

Don't really see what's wrong with any of that. Even if the quotes are out of context they're thought provoking all the same.

He's not a bad looking chap, if I were better looking I'd pose more.

Well, he is a socialist.

He didn't write No Surface All Feeling though. What a prick!

[Little Troll]

He doesn't like Nicky Wire, never mind. I have no idea who he is so it doesn't upset me in any way if he doesn't like the same music I do. Not everyone is going to like the manics or Nicky, and that's fine?

He has some points. Some of the lyrics are crap. And it is silly that they said they'd split up after one album when they didn't, but nevermind, more music for us!
But then I also don't see why it's a problem that they continued on without Richey or that he wears dresses and eyeliner on stage.

[Dac X Lee]

I've got the impression that the author thinks that Richey and Nickey were the main founders of the band... If that's the case, he/she is not well informed.

Anyway, I like Nicky's exhibitionist ways too, he's a star, let him be. It's entertaining afterall.

As for the lyrics, they're generally good, but hey, look at the number of what he had written, it's impossible to ALWAYS be so good and never fail!

And I'd agree about his femminism, I think, as far as I see, which is very well appreciated.

I agree however sometimes he might be a bit rude or impulsive which sometimes ruins his image and reputation.

[Bryter Layter]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

Don't really see what's wrong with any of that. Even if the quotes are out of context they're thought provoking all the same.

He's not a bad looking chap, if I were better looking I'd pose more.

Well, he is a socialist.

He didn't write No Surface All Feeling though. What a prick!

How do you figure Wire didn't write No Surface All Feeling? Who do you think wrote it? It's certainly not a Richey composition. Great tune though!

Also, in what way is Wire a Socialist or are you just being ironic?

[Abscess]

OP didn't write it, it's from here.

I didn't get past " Richey Edwards was actually insane". I just knew the rest would be bullshit too.

[meanestgreenmeme]

Originally Posted by Bryter Layter

OMG, I laughed when I read this!

TBH, the vast majority of these criticisms are true especially the bit about the lyrics. Most of them ARE truly crap, but then again, some are quite brilliant too. 'Golden Platitudes' in particular is a great example of Wire at his finest as a lyricist. The line "Why colonize the moon/When every different kind/Of desperation exists?" is ace! So simple, yet really touching.

On the other hand however, what this individual seemingly fails to realize is, Wire's 'ways' maybe nauseating to him (I'm going to assume the author is a male), but to his legions of fans, those are the very things they love about him. At the end of the day, that's pretty much all that matters in terms of his membership in MSP.

On a personal note, I really wouldn't call myself a Wire devotee, but I must admit that one of the best things about him - and what this fellow conveniently ignores - is that out of all the Manics including Richey, he is the only one I would actually call a feminist. He gets an A+ from me for that. Well done Wire, well done!

Agreed. Also it is clear that wire has been through all the stages of grief for a person he loved and has left a trail of those stages throughout the albums. Sometimes cringe worthy, sometime lyrically beautiful, yet, always wire. I respect him and his lyrics either way.

[sofarsideways]

Originally Posted by meanestgreenmeme

it is clear that wire has been through all the stages of grief for a person he loved and has left a trail of those stages throughout the albums.

Ow, my heart.

[sculptureofabloke]

Originally Posted by Bryter Layter

How do you figure Wire didn't write No Surface All Feeling? Who do you think wrote it? It's certainly not a Richey composition. Great tune though!

Also, in what way is Wire a Socialist or are you just being ironic?

Could've sworn it was a Richey one, my bad.

Oh for fuck sake. He's got his beliefs, he talks about them and writes about them all the time. He might not be your idea of a socialist, he might not be 100% consistent and fit your idea of what a socialist should be but he's only fucking human, what does someone have to do to meet your standards?

[Napoleon Bonaparte]

Sounds obtuse, Cult Of Richey style obtuse.

"He didn't kill himself so he's not cool" Jesus fucking Christ.

[Bryter Layter]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

Could've sworn it was a Richey one, my bad.

Oh for fuck sake. He's got his beliefs, he talks about them and writes about them all the time. He might not be your idea of a socialist, he might not be 100% consistent and fit your idea of what a socialist should be but he's only fucking human, what does someone have to do to meet your standards?

It's not my definition, it's the definition of Socialism period and sorry, he in no way fits the bill. I don't even think he's ever called himself (in recent years at least) a Socialist either. :/

Also I DO NOT appreciate the tone or language.

[Littlesue]

Unlike you to be abusive Sculptureofabloke