Manic Street Preachers bring 'Journal For Plague Lovers' to London

Manic Street Preachers returned to the scene of their breakthrough hit last night (May 28) as their 'Journal For Plague Lovers' tour rolled into London.

The band had never played a gig in Camden Roundhouse before, despite having filmed the video for their massive-selling 1996 single 'A Design For Life' there in the days before it reopened as a venue.

Last night they begun a three-night residency at the venue that sees them play their new album, featuring lyrics penned by departed guitarist Richey Edwards, in its entirety.

"Hopefully it's gonna be auspicious," said frontman James Dean Bradfield after opening with 'Peeled Apples', "although I'm told if you’re short like me, it's not a great venue."

Bleached-blonde bassist Nicky Wire, still battling a prolapsed disc, managed to stand up throughout the show but apologised for not being his usual scissor-kicking self.

"I'm sorry for standing like Colin Greenwood without the fucking talent," he told the crowd. "I'm sorry for standing still like every other fucking bass player in the world."

Later he referenced the controversy that has seen their new album cover censored in major supermarkets and dedicated 'Doors Closing Slowly' to painter Jenny Saville, who was in the audience. "She's taken a lot of shit for this cover and I don't know why," he said.

After 'Journal For Plague Lovers', the band left the stage for short interval, before returning for an hour-long hits set.

Manic Street Preachers played:

'Peeled Apples'
'Jackie Collins Existential Question Time'
'Me And Stephen Hawking'
'This Joke Sport, Severed'
'Journal For Plague Lovers'
'She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach'
'Facing Page: Top Left'
'Marlon JD'
'Doors Closing Slowly'
'All Is Vanity'
'Pretension/Repulsion'
'Virginia State Epileptic Colony'
'William's Last Words'

'Motorcycle Emptiness'
'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough'
'No Surface, All Feeling'
'You Love Us'
'Tsunami'
'La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh)'
'Faster'
'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next'
'Little Baby Nothing'
'Australia'
'You Stole The Sun From My Heart'
'Stop In The Name Of Love' / 'Motown Junk'
'Everything Must Go'
'Autumnsong'
'A Design For Life'

The band's London residency continues tonight (May 29) and tomorrow (May 30).