August 18, 2009 10:38

Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire compares Take That to Neil Young

''Patience' greatest comeback single in history' says bassist

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Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire has compared Take That to Neil Young.

The bassist told the Guardian he thought their 2006 single 'Patience' was the "greatest" comeback song ever – and that it did not gain the recognition it deserved.

"It's the greatest comeback single in history," he declared. "If Neil Young had written it, people would be calling it a masterpiece."

Wire added: "It's got such a dark lyric: 'My heart is numb, has no feeling/So while I'm still healing/Just try and have a little patience'. There's also a maturity about it that suits the boys all grown-up.

"Gary Barlow is a genius, I won't have anyone argue against him. When [Arctic Monkeys frontman] Alex Turner slagged off Take That [at an awards ceremony in 2006] I nearly lost it. James [Dean Bradfield, his band-mate] was grabbing me by the arm, saying, 'Don't lose it, Nicky.'

"You get so many alternative bands banging on about how to make perfect pop, and this kicks all their arses."