THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS have unveiled both of their forthcoming new singles this week. One of the two a-sides, "So Why So Sad," is currently available for listen in its entirety on NME, and, boy, it's a bit odd (but we think in a good way.) The other a-side, "Found That Soul," has been given a 30 second sneak clip at the band's official website. As we reported earlier, both singles will be released on the same day in the UK (a rather unusual move) - on March 5th.

Despite their relative anonymity in the U.S., thousands of fans abroad would clamor for the opportunity to share a couch and more than a few giggles with James Dean Bradfield. James was in good spirits and spoke for quite a while on this unseasonably hot autumn afternoon, the last day of the Manic Street Preachers' brief, topsy-turvy tour of America.

In the two weeks since the band landed in America, they had experienced the troubles they've come to expect from previous attempts to visit this continent -- "The curse has returned," remarked bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire during technical glitches in the middle of their penultimate performance (also in Los Angeles at the Troubadour). Familiar though this bumpy road was to the band, it became much more than laughably unpleasant when Bradfield was struck with laryngitis right at the start of things, forcing a cancellation of their second sold-out show in New York. Consulting a specialist, Bradfield was treated with cortisone injections which, due to his inexperience with steroids, affected him with "God-awful mood swings." Nature got in on the fun when Hurricane Floyd prevented the Manics from getting out of New York and making their Boston show on time, thus resulting in another cancellation.

After that, however, everything seemed to settle down and fate left the Manic Street Preachers alone. They are about to complete the tour, head back home to Wales (London for Bradfield), and have no other commitments save to plan their "Manics Millennium" show at Cardiff Stadium for New Year's Eve. A sense of relief is evident on James' face as he greets me for a chat.

Interview by Lisa Y. Garibay

The MANIC STREET PREACHERS US tour was thrown a curveball this week when frontman James Bradfield came down with a case of laryngitis, forcing the cancellation of at least two dates on the East Coast leg of the tour (one happening about 5 minutes before showtime.) The cancelled shows are presumed to be rescheduled towards the end of the tour. Hopefully it won't affect many more dates - we'll keep you posted in the event of an official announcement.

At least according to the British music press, it seems that Nicky Wire has gone a bit haywire as of late and that the Manic Street Preachers have become the rock dinosaurs they once sought to destroy.

And depending on your level of cynicism, you might say the band's U.S. tour of 11 dates in nine cities -- with at least one last-minute cancellation -- isn't exactly the sign of a young-and-hungry act who'll do anything to make in the States.

Regardless, when I spoke to Nicky Wire from his home in Wales on the eve of the tour, he was affable and relaxed and seemed anxious to laugh off the criticism that's been leveled at his band.

Interview by Ross Raihala

Not happy news to report, but we HAVE had it confirmed to be true: The upcoming US tour from the MANIC STREET PREACHERS has been cancelled. The official word is "due to a serious illness in the family." Hopefully, the dates will be rescheduled as soon as possible, but for now, it's all off.

The MANIC STREET PREACHERS have a new U.S. home on Virgin America. Their current album, "This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours," released several months ago in the U.K. will get an overdue U.S. release on March 23, 1999. The band may also be touring the U.S. in support of the album.

A Welsh newspaper is reporting that RICHEY MANIC could be alive and well and in the Canary Islands. According to NME, The South Wales Echo ran a story this week that Richey had been spotted by a British barmaid working on the remote island of Fuerteventura. Apparantly the barmaid and another customer noticed a "thin man" resembling the missing guitarist at the back of the bar. The customer confronted the man, who then ran out of the bar without saying a word. Both the barmaid and the customer are convinced that the man was the presumed dead Richey Edwards.

Well, remember a few days ago when we reported that the Manic Street Preachers had been dropped by their U.S. label? Well, it's happened AGAIN, as we're now receiving word (unconfirmed but very reliable) that ASH have officially been dropped by Reprise Records in the States, which means the new Ash record, Nu-Clear Sounds, scheduled for an October U.S. release, will most likely now have to be obtained via importer. This is really getting ridiculous.

The MANIC STREET PREACHERS have been dropped by their American label. Sony US, along with two other US major labels, have turned down the Manic's forthcoming new album, "This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours," claiming it to be "too dark" for American chart success.