From humble beginnings in Blackwood, south Wales, in 1986, Manic Street Preachers have grown to become one of the UK’s biggest and most controversial rock bands. In their early years, they attracted intense press attention for their provocative statements, fierce intellect, and uncompromising music. Following the shocking and tragic disappearance of lyricist Richey Edwards in 1995, the Manics recalibrated their sound and achieved mainstream international success including two UK #1 singles. The Manics have sold over 10 million albums and remain one of the UK’s most important and enduring cult bands. Manic Street Preachers: Song by Song is a comprehensive look at their unique and fascinating career, covering their fifteen studio albums from Generation Terrorists, released in 1992, to Critical Thinking, released in 2025, along with all other studio recordings. It explores their changing sound and the many political, historical, and cultural references in their incendiary lyrics.

Andy Johnson is a long-time Manics fan and the creator of the blog Manic Street Preachers: A Critical Discography. He is a former contributor to music publications The Line of Best Fit and PopMatters, where he published reviews, interviews, and features. He is a current contributor to the international video games site Entertainium and runs his own personal site on topics including classic science fiction, video games, and music.