The story of Manic Millennium, 25 years on from the greatest New Year's Eve party Wales ever saw
It was the biggest gig of their lives and one that meant so much to them.
When the Manic Street Preachers heralded in a new century at the Millennium Stadium on December 31, 1999, they left behind a decade that was marked by massive highs and devastating lows.
The three friends from Blackwood – James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore – had survived press criticism, public indifference, the death of a manager and the disappearance of key member Richey Edwards, while finding ultimate redemption as one of the most important bands in Britain.
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As the new millennium dawned, anxiety was high. There were fears that computers would crash, planes would fall out of the sky and security systems would fail.
In Cardiff, the University Hospital of Wales was so worried that life-saving equipment would fail for their patients in intensive care, they drafted in special back-up generators. Millions of pounds were spent UK-wide to try to ensure that all hi-tech equipment could cope with the switch from 1999 to 2000.
In the city centre, as plans were put in place for the Manics to play Manic Millennium, there were unique concerns about the first live concert to be staged at the stadium, which had only been opened for six months at that point. It was described as "the world's biggest indoor music event". Two billion television viewers from around the globe were to see in the year 2000 with the Manics thanks to a global live link-up at midnight.
However, some seats in the stadium were left empty because of fears that the building would not cope with so many excited fans; metal struts being put into place between the first and second tiers because of those safety concerns. Nevertheless, at the time it was still the biggest indoor gig ever staged, thanks to the closing of the stadium's retractable roof.
In a pre-gig briefing with journalists on the day of the show, Nicky Wire joked with the assembled press pack: “All this jumping around might knock the stadium down. Try and keep calm.”
James Dean Bradfield, meanwhile, also had more concerns, professing to the merest hint of nerves ahead of the biggest concert of their lives.
“I’m worried about forgetting the words,” said the lead singer.
“You’ve never worried about that before,” Wire said to him.
“But this time I am,” replied Bradfield, reflecting the importance of the sell-out gig to the band, who in 10 years had gone from playing pubs to selling out stadiums.
To underline this point, Wire added: “Ten years ago we did a gig in Cardiff to two people. Today we’re playing in front of 60,000 people. I think that shows how far we’ve come, how far we have grown and how much Wales has grown.”
The sold-out and hugely anticipated show also included an impressive supporting bill that consisted of poet Patrick Jones, Scouse maestros Shack, Newport rockers Feeder, and everyone's favourite pop surrealists Super Furry Animals
“It is pretty much a greatest hits package plus a few surprises,” said Wire. “James will play an acoustic set after midnight and then we finish with the bigger hits. Our very early hardcore fans, there is something for them. And those who have grown with us from Everything Must Go, who expect a more lush sound, there is something for them also. It is a concert not just for us.”
The gig has now passed into annals of Welsh cultural folklore, the Manics playing for around two-and-a-half hours with a gap in the middle, to allow for the small matter of the new millennium dawning, and for an obligatory Nicky Wire costume change and leg wax, no doubt.
Ahead of the show the band had cautioned that they did not feel the concert marked a pinnacle in their careers.
“We still have more ambition than any other band around, whether it is in writing songs or in selling records,” said Bradfield.
Two decades on and the Manics are still going strong, still creating, still vital, still playing to a ferociously loyal fan base, with reciprocated love and passion. And remarkably, while their contemporaries have faded into the distance or haunt the margins of the heritage circuit, they are still playing stadium shows.
When they left the 20 century, they could scarcely have imagined such a scenario. But then they've always were the most special of rock 'n' roll bands. The 60,000 fans who were at the Manic Millennium on December 31, 1999 will attest to that.
The Manic Millennium setlist
Part 1: 1999
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Faster
Everything Must Go
Tsunami
The Masses Against the Classes
The Everlasting
Kevin Carter
La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Rock and Roll Music (Chuck Berry cover)
Ready for Drowning
Of Walking Abortion
No Surface All Feeling
Motown Junk (w/ Baby Love Intro)
Motorcycle Emptiness
Part 2: 2000
Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli cover) (Acoustic)
Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky (Acoustic)
Australia
Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier
You Love Us
Stay Beautiful
(On screen message from former miners' leader Arthur Scargill) If You Tolerate This (Your Children Will be Next)
A Design for Life
