Nailed to History: The Story of Manic Street Preachers

HIV positive. Though this was ill-informed gossip that later proved to be completely without foundation, Nicky’s decision to share it – with some added venom of his own – seemed utterly senseless. Suffice to say, the music press had a field day with him, their letter pages filled with readers’ righteous indignation, their editorial columns full of political fire and brimstone. “All that will be remembered of this,” said Melody Maker, “is that Nicky portrays AIDS as a form of punitive justice.” The Manics’ fellow performers were also more than willing to hoist Wire by his own petard. “If suicide is painless,” reasoned Boy George, “then why doesn’t he just slit his throat and shut the fuck up?”