Manic Street Preachers top great Cardiff fund-raiser

Manic Street Preachers, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Snow Patrol and Keane helped a host of stars raise over £1m in Cardiff for the UK's biggest charity concert in 20 years.

Thousands of people braved the driving rain with queues pouring around the Millennium Stadium hours before the doors opened up at 2pm.

Up to 20 acts and artists performed for free for the Live Aid style seven-hour marathon to help victims of the Asian tsunami disaster which struck on Boxing Day.

A homecoming set by Manic Street Preachers drew the biggest ovation from the 61,000 fans who packed into the stadium as the Blackwood heroes tore through a five song set which included rousing renditions of ‘Motorcycle Emptiness', ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next', new single ‘Empty Souls', and ‘Design For Life'.

Fan favourite 'You Stole The Sun From My Heart‘, drew the biggest cheer as the crowd sang back every word to the Welsh trio's classic hit single.

It was the Manics' first performance at the stadium since they saw in the year 2000 for a special gig five years ago.

Speaking to NME.COM after the show, singer James Dean Bradfield said: “It was very different from last time. It's like comparing football with rugby. It's a completely different thing because you go on stage and technically it's all over the place. You've got three minutes to get your gear on and that's it. It might as well have been a different venue."

He added: "It felt like the right thing to do though. Once we made the initial decision to do the gig then we weren't overcome with any kind of emotion because we got on stage, saw the people in the crowd and knew everybody had made the right decision.”

Earlier in the day, fans were treated to a moving performance from Snow Patrol.

The highlight of the set came when the Irish rockers performed a heart warming rendition of their top ten hit single ‘Run' to a sea of red torches.

Backstage guitarist Nathan Connolly told NME.COM: “It was bizarre to see all those red lights. It was quite amazing really. I didn't know what to expect. It took me by surprise.”
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