20 YEARS OF ROCK'N'ROLL REBELLION.

The Manics formed as a punk band in 1986 at Oakdale School, Blackwood, under the name Betty Blue.

The original line-up was James Dean Bradfield, his cousin Sean Moore, Nicky Wire (real name Nicholas Allen Jones) and Flicker (real name Miles Woodward).

The latter quit in 1988 and the three-piece recorded debut single Suicide Alley a year later. The cover was designed by pal Richey James Edwards, who joined the band as co-writer and back-up guitarist.

Their debut album for Sony, Generation Terrorists, was released in 1992 and sold 250,000 copies. Follow-up Gold Against The Soul reached No.8 but third offering The Holy Bible in August 1994 sold badly, even though it is now regarded by fans as their finest hour.

Richey, a self-harming anorexic and alcoholic, vanished in London in 1995 and hasn't been seen since.

But the band's star continued to rise and 1996's Everything Must Go was a huge hit, spawning No.2 single A Design For Life.

They had their first No.1 with If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next in 1998. Know Your Enemy, Forever Delayed and Lipstick Traces followed, then Lifeblood flopped. They returned to form last year, storming to No.2 with Send Away The T igers.

CAPTION(S):

Richey, Nicky, James and Sean in 1992 when first album Generation Terrorists came out