Welsh band the Manic Street Preachers continue to show their love for the seaside town of Tenby by featuring the resort in their latest music video.
‘The Secret He Had Missed’ which features Sunflower Bean‘s Julia Cumming on guest vocals is taken from the band’s forthcoming album The Ultra Vivid Lament, the sleeve of which features an image of bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire standing on the shores of the South Beach, looking out to Caldey Island.
The video for the new single stars Newport born actress Aimee Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders) and was directed by long-time visual collaborator Kieran Evans, with many of the Peaky Blinders actress’ scenes shot in Tenby, showing South, North and Castle beaches, along with views from St Catherine’s Island .
Lyricist and bassist Nicky Wire holds Tenby close to his heart, where he has owned a flat for the past 15 years, and was on hand to open his first ever exhibition - ‘Paintings and Polaroids’ - at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery back in September of 2018, where he also welcomed his bandmate James Dean Bradfield to open the event with a couple of well known ditties.
The new single which even features the line ‘Left your heart on the beach in Tenby’ in one of the opening verses, was inspired by “the inner dynamics between family relationships” – particularly that of the celebrated Welsh painters Augustus John (born in Tenby) and Gwen John, who grew to fame at the turn of the 20th Century, Nicky Wire told the NME.
“It’s about by how opposite their lives were,” he explained.
“Augustus John was bohemian, reckless, amazingly talented but some might say wasted his talent. Then Gwen John was much more about the interior world, living an almost nun-like existence in France with very little possessions.
“It just goes to show how different it can turn out between a brother and sister,” added Nicky, who has called Tenby a “very special place with such a rich artistic history” and has spoken about his love for the town numerous times over the years and its influence on his songwriting at times.
“I think Tenby is unique, and I’ve been to loads of seaside towns. It’s kind of self-contained, still working - you can go to an art gallery, have a great cappuccino, an amazing bag of chips, and just wander around on the beach,” he remarked.
“Having a place down here has been more than inspirational - it has inspired a lot of my lyrics, especially ‘Postcard from a Young Man’ - that album in particular.
“I remember my first trip to Tenby vividly when I was about seven to ten - the shops were still open at night, and we had a fantastic bag of chips and played cricket on the beach!
“The first thing that hits you is the harbour itself - it is truly picturesque. You have South Beach, North Beach, the view to Caldey - the town itself incased by the original Castle walls - a fantastic Georgian terrace, all the blue plaques for Augustus John, Gwen John, Nina Hamnett, Beatrix Potter, and the museum itself - everything a man could need!
“For me it’s just the stillness of it - the minute I get down here, everything just slows down.
“It’s a very historical and artistic town, and makes me a bit of a better person when I’m down here,” he added.
‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ which was recorded at the legendary Rockfield studios as well as their own Door to the River HQ will be released in September.