@nationwidejazzman95 Beacause the balaclava is a controversial piece of clothing in Britain. It is always assossiated with the IRA and terrorism, even though the SAS, bank robbers, kidnappers etc use them.
Its like their symbol of terror.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood did a performance on TOTP with stockings on their heads and noone batted an eyelid.
they hardly ever play the holy bible stuff anymore :( i guess its not right seeing as richey rote most of it.... i never really liked nicky wire's lyrics, richey always sounded honest... at least he meant it, poor guy.......
Can't help wondering if the grinning-moron audience who joyously bounce up and down understood a single word of that! The name written on balaclava thing? Kind of IRA meets the normal school procedure of having your name written on/stitched into your clothes? The balaclava (name derived from the Crimean War q.v.) says "I'm a terrorist and I'm going to kill you", the word James says "my Mum wrote this so I don't lose my hat" Must be a Welsh situationist thing! But a rather glorious one...
Can't help wondering if the grinning-moron audience who joyously bounce up and down understood a single word of that! The name written on balaclava thing? Kind of IRA meets the normal school procedure of having your name written on/stitched into your clothes? The balaclava (name derived from the Crimean War q.v.) says "I'm a terrorist and I'm going to kill you", the word James says "my Mum wrote this so I don't lose my hat" Must be a Welsh situationist thing! But a rather glorious one.
@Generation1Terrorist It's a tuneless and boring dirge, done so so much better by countless bands (usually around 1977-1979.) Bands should innovate, not imitate...
@Generation1Terrorist yes you are a dickhead, which of the "countless" bands during 77-79 done it better? 77? sex pistols.....78? Stranglers....79? clash...You Show your ignorance with your reference to the fabled golden age of punk- this is not a rehash of old values and chords- I was there in 77-79 - i dont remember hearing "Plath" mentioned in the " never mind the bollocks"- pipe down dickhead
"Drug assed soul"-how respectful of you to talk that way about a man who no doubt held more talent and grace in his pinky finger than you do in your entire body. Nice.
dm18876...the reason the clash didn't play on totp is coz at that time anyway,totp didn't let the vast majority of bands play live which is something the clash were particular about
It was controversial because of the balaclava worn by James. In Britain, the wearing of balaclavas has long been associated with Irish paramilitary groups (the IRA in particular) who at the time of this performance, were still waging an armed campaign. I suppose that many of those who complained felt the military outfit with the balaclava resembled or showed support for paramilitary organisations, whereas it is quite well known that James was actually trying for the look of an SAS soldier.
I think I love MSP! I never heard of TOTP, but I guess that where the total opposite of these guys go play. Does James play with balaclavas live often?
One of my favourite songs, the lyrics are just amazing. But! I HAVE to mention that James is looking goooood! What a body!!!! And i could watch 2:35-2:43 all day long haha
@TorysApollo Balaclavas = IRA. (Although I don't think they stitched their names into the forehead)
Seems a bit tenuous but the BBC said it was the most complaints they had ever recieved. A guy named Simon Price said in his book 'Everything' that it was because it was shortly after the Warrington bomb, but that had been a year previous. Other things like the Greysteel massacre had happened since. I suppose Irish life is cheaper to some people
It was controversial because of the balaclava worn by James. In Britain, the wearing of balaclavas has long been associated with Irish paramilitary groups (the IRA in particular) who at the time of this performance, were still waging an armed campaign. I suppose that many of those who complained felt the military outfit with the balaclava resembled or showed support for paramilitary organisations, whereas it is quite well known that James was actually trying for the look of an SAS soldier.
I'm still amazed by the muppets jumping up and down to a song that not one of them understands - anyone remember Radiohead performing Paranoid Android on TOTP for the first time? That seemed to stifle the muppets' spirits! LOL
The manics are are part of a long line of bands that should not have sold out to the TOTP generation, even metal gods Judas Priest appeared. I do remeber watchng this performance and the number of wankers that called in to the BBC to complain about the paramilitary look of the band.
Fucking awesome. They were like a gang with no fear bringing subversion in through the front door howling, with a studio audience robbed of sentience by cameras.
I love how all of those kids are dancing around and smiling, they have no idea what the song's even about.
It's performances like these that make me realise why I love this band. They never held back, even on a show like this.
'I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing' and 'Self-disgust is self-obsession, honey, and I do as I please' are some of the best lyrics Richey and Nick have ever written.
ummm why did they make such a fuss about him wearing a balaclava??? just bcoz he looked a bit like a terrorist lol. i cant find this on any sites, but apparently a lot of fuss was made about it. WHY??? Surely the british public have got something better to do than moan about everything?? No, they haven't, it seems.
Because British people during the 70s, 80s and 90s associated the wearing of balaclavas + military uniforms with the Irish Republican Army, who were still, at the time of broadcast, conducting a campaign of bombings against British civilians in major cities around the country and were widely despised by the unintelligent right and tabloid readers, the exact same demographic who like to complain to Ofcom with boring, spurious theories about declining standards in the media.
@Herzog1012 The bombings were aimed at economic targets and not civilians! Long warnings were always given. However, civilians were injured and about 6 killed.
TOTP was bollocks anyway, all that show ever got was complaints. another pathetic example was when the prodigy got to number 1 and viewers phoned in saying that the 'firestarter' video was too scary!
The Clash once swore they would never go on Top Of The Pops. Silly that, because MSP have proved that safe, family-oriented institutions like TOTP, were always ripe for Situationist-style subversion. Its only surprising it took any band until 1994 to figure this out.
@dm18876 Robert Wyatt figured that out in 1974...he 'subversively' wanted to use his wheelchair. Producers wanted him to sit in a wicker chair. He won but was told he'd never play TOTP again...and it got the highest amount of complaints until this performance. Just to show how 'reasoned' the parents who complained were (as it was they, not the kids I'm thinking). Pitiful...
@exkirkby An important pre-requisite of 'selection' (of shit music TV programmes or otherwise), is choice. And there was fuck all of that about in 1994 - not as many people had satellite/cable then, as they do now. And even the choices now, are dubious to say the least.
@exkirkby An important pre-requisite of 'selection' (of shit music TV programmes or otherwise), is choice. And there was fuck all of that about in 1994 - not as many people had satellite/cable then, as they do now. And even the choices now, are dubious to say the least. Granted TOTP wasn't the only music prog,, but you took what scraps you were fed - making moments like this stand out more.
Well, I personally find your attitude disgusting. Maybe us Brits are easily riled, but at least we don't go spreading incitement to homophobic violence like you do in that comment. Maybe when you grow up you'll realise a) land areas can't be gay and b) you should not go attacking gay people or indeed "gay countries". Keep your prejudices to yourself.
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You Brits get so riled up over anything. Second to the Americans I guess. In Canada we wear those hats in winter with no such silly terrorist associations. How gay your two countries are at times. No wonder you get attacked.
Lol, remember mate, if we get riled up over everything then so does the best part of you *cough* country. Remember this mate, your either British or French.
I looooove this performance, the contrast of James screaming his head off in a balaclava while the TOTP crowd dance like grinning idiots is awesome...
Yeah, the Nirvana one is just a total piss take. I remember Kurt saying that he was singin like Morrissey for a laugh. Dave Grohl mincing about behind the drums is always a funny site. Think the reason i love the Manics performance so much is just because so many people got and still get offended by it as shown by some of the numpties comments on here lol!
A friend of mine was killed by the British Army in the north of ireland. However, you have to live with the consequences if you choose a side in a conflict. Your uncle picked a side too I'm afraid.
This is THE greatest ever TOTP performance in my opinion. Right at the top of the show aswell. You can just imagine all those middle class torys choking on their cucumber sandwiches when they tuned in to watch some middle of the road, soft rock and pop acts of the 90's and got hit with this hahaahaha!
I hate when you come on here just to watch a band and the next thing you roll down through the comments and feel obliged to set idiots,like yourself,straight. People from the North of Ireland aren't British and never have been,it's called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,which makes them from the UK. People from the North can also have Irish passports.What happened in the past was wrong but the fact that u've got 3 tumps up shows the level of ignorants that still remains.
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Perfect. Life is for the cold made warm but they are just lizards indeed. The vocal sounds live but I thought everythign was mimed on TOTP
You're the ignorant one! James Dean-Bradfield wore the balaclava because the lyrics were so raw to Richy's ideas and thoughts at the time, he felt he needed to be behind a mask as not to fool people into thinking they were his lyrics. His voice is his instrument as well as his guitar. And as for the rest of the military suits, the band wore them to show their solidarity to each other and the music they were creating. They weren't about TOTP or ratings, they were about the music and the band.
And The I.R.A weren't the only people who wore balaclavas, so who's saying the I.R.A are cool? Perhaps you should read up on their musical background before you start pointing fingers, "you ignorant shit"!
They probably did it for a laugh and for the controversy. It was 1994 during the terrorism campaign, when balaclavas were an all too common sight on the TV news. It was part of the times.
James says himself on the ten anniversary of the Holy Bible dvd,one of the reasons he wore it was that it represented to middle England a SYMBOL of the IRA,No one's it's exclusive to the IRA.
James says on the bible video that it was a symbol of the IRA and that it got up 'middle englands' nose as there were mixed impressions of the balaclava ie para military and military - on one hand you had 'terrorists' on the other you had 'special forces' as JDB says. The whole point is that it is supposed to be ambiguous and so - has got everything to do with the IRA and nothing to do with it at the same time.
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he isn't allowed to call himself an architect its a protected title by law and also balaclavas are illegal now but this was a while ago so i'll let that one slide yeah yeah yeah
I love all the goofey dancing tossers in the audience. I gather that the majority had no idea what James is singing about. If ever there was a song that was antithetical to pop culture, it is this song. Also James' brief solo is one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. "Man Kills Everything" as the wanking pop mavens dance on like true automatons. This is true poetic irony at its finest.
I hate purity.
I hate goodness.
I don't want virtue to exist anywhere.
I want everyone corrupt...
zionravescene 1 day ago
watched the live version at O2 arena in London - sans balaclava - sans Richey - It STILL hit the spot-
but then again . I am Stronger than mensa and I still spit out Sylvia Plath
skezbag 1 month ago
OTT amazing great lyrics silly stage presence incredible music
i love it
maybe the best track on the holy bible
misanthropicagenda1 3 months ago in playlist Watch Later Playlist
very funny - do they realise how comic they are?
cinedores 3 months ago
@cinedores i think james written across his balaclava answers that one :)
railroadspy 3 months ago
An immense song. Oh, and 3:52 onwards made me laugh.
IanM1984 3 months ago
Actually Jimmy Saville was the first to wear a balaclava on TOTP, in 1971. How's about that then?
jayrox40 5 months ago 2
Do you like my peep-hole pringle?
It's modelled on an SAS baalllaclava.
coetmor 6 months ago
i dont get why this performance has been called infamous
nationwidejazzman95 6 months ago
@nationwidejazzman95 Beacause the balaclava is a controversial piece of clothing in Britain. It is always assossiated with the IRA and terrorism, even though the SAS, bank robbers, kidnappers etc use them.
Its like their symbol of terror.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood did a performance on TOTP with stockings on their heads and noone batted an eyelid.
ashmiles 4 months ago
@ashmiles It's called irony mate - and if you followed MSP as long as we have you will know what I mean
TollyBoy666 4 months ago
Hard to imagine the Script does this, isn't it? Great days, we just didn't realise it.
thaines 6 months ago
they hardly ever play the holy bible stuff anymore :( i guess its not right seeing as richey rote most of it.... i never really liked nicky wire's lyrics, richey always sounded honest... at least he meant it, poor guy.......
jordanbarker676 7 months ago
@jordanbarker676 alternatively they don't play it cos they sussed that the later stuff was much better? A wise decision!
jhartshill 3 months ago
James's name on his balaclava still makes me laugh... it's like he didn't quite get the idea of being threatening!
Tilly236 8 months ago 2
one word to describe this era of the manics... fearless
martyswild 8 months ago 3
Iam stronger than Mensa, Miller and Mailer I spat out Plath and Pinter.
johnbarry1965 8 months ago 5
Vic Reeves sucks
silencethescreams 9 months ago
@silencethescreams No. He doesn't.
CptPinkerton1991 8 months ago
@silencethescreams vic reeves makes me laugh :D he's great!
jordanbarker676 8 months ago
The holy bible is one of the best albums ever I reckon. If you want nice catchy melodies go and listen to JLS.
barnzmutant 10 months ago 12
@barnzmutant or Postcards from a young man :)
89naja 3 months ago
S U C K S !!!
wagsouza 10 months ago
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Can't help wondering if the grinning-moron audience who joyously bounce up and down understood a single word of that! The name written on balaclava thing? Kind of IRA meets the normal school procedure of having your name written on/stitched into your clothes? The balaclava (name derived from the Crimean War q.v.) says "I'm a terrorist and I'm going to kill you", the word James says "my Mum wrote this so I don't lose my hat" Must be a Welsh situationist thing! But a rather glorious one...
richardabbott1966 10 months ago
Can't help wondering if the grinning-moron audience who joyously bounce up and down understood a single word of that! The name written on balaclava thing? Kind of IRA meets the normal school procedure of having your name written on/stitched into your clothes? The balaclava (name derived from the Crimean War q.v.) says "I'm a terrorist and I'm going to kill you", the word James says "my Mum wrote this so I don't lose my hat" Must be a Welsh situationist thing! But a rather glorious one.
richardabbott1966 10 months ago 2
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Really boring crap, tuneless attempt at a punk record. Shame really cos they had some great tunes like motorcycle emptiness etc....
jhartshill 10 months ago
@jhartshill dickhead
Generation1Terrorist 3 months ago
@Generation1Terrorist It's a tuneless and boring dirge, done so so much better by countless bands (usually around 1977-1979.) Bands should innovate, not imitate...
jhartshill 3 months ago
@Generation1Terrorist yes you are a dickhead, which of the "countless" bands during 77-79 done it better? 77? sex pistols.....78? Stranglers....79? clash...You Show your ignorance with your reference to the fabled golden age of punk- this is not a rehash of old values and chords- I was there in 77-79 - i dont remember hearing "Plath" mentioned in the " never mind the bollocks"- pipe down dickhead
skezbag 1 month ago
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pity they sold out to the mainstream shite........maybe why ritchie threw his drug assed soul off the bridge........
sherbert500 10 months ago
@sherbert500
"Drug assed soul"-how respectful of you to talk that way about a man who no doubt held more talent and grace in his pinky finger than you do in your entire body. Nice.
ugottalovelife 8 months ago
'I reeeeeally enjoyed that record, did you Bob!'
Brilliant
crustymini99 10 months ago 2
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crustymini99 10 months ago
Fucking incredible! Suck that before Eastenders! Still pissing myself at how fucking shocked mainstream TV audiences would have been.
scottcurrieltd 11 months ago
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madmanjpn 1 year ago
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genius. pure, unadulterated earth-shattering brilliance.
moonmoonsn 1 year ago
genius. pure fucking earth-shattering brilliance.
moonmoonsn 1 year ago
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Jimmie379 1 year ago
dm18876...the reason the clash didn't play on totp is coz at that time anyway,totp didn't let the vast majority of bands play live which is something the clash were particular about
creatingchaos04 1 year ago
It was controversial because of the balaclava worn by James. In Britain, the wearing of balaclavas has long been associated with Irish paramilitary groups (the IRA in particular) who at the time of this performance, were still waging an armed campaign. I suppose that many of those who complained felt the military outfit with the balaclava resembled or showed support for paramilitary organisations, whereas it is quite well known that James was actually trying for the look of an SAS soldier.
DutchTony1 1 year ago 3
@DutchTony1 .......with his name on his hat? Where you gettin the SAS thing from?
ZZKe7 11 months ago
Two words: GET IN!!
joydivided23 1 year ago 2
I think I love MSP! I never heard of TOTP, but I guess that where the total opposite of these guys go play. Does James play with balaclavas live often?
DaArcaneNinja 1 year ago
Still cool as fuck!!!
alan35652009 1 year ago
best vid on youtube.
Squemby 1 year ago
@Squemby , yes agreed, but piss taking wankers, who introduced it. This is a fuckin classic, which should be appreciated, for the genius it is
zoned247 1 year ago
superb knitwear
BadEggCymru 1 year ago 2
I wish i had been older than 1 at this time. . . but they're still awesome!!! don't come to the U.S. much though. . .
ammesp 1 year ago
One of my favourite songs, the lyrics are just amazing. But! I HAVE to mention that James is looking goooood! What a body!!!! And i could watch 2:35-2:43 all day long haha
mcjprr 1 year ago
I love it how bold James can be. Putting that terrorist-like mask even on TOTP.
wildanS 1 year ago
I don't get why this is controversial, explain?
People need to get a life
Richey looks nice in that sailor suit!!!!
TorysApollo 1 year ago
@TorysApollo Ireland wasnt such a safe then!
Robcatist 1 year ago
@TorysApollo Balaclavas = IRA. (Although I don't think they stitched their names into the forehead)
Seems a bit tenuous but the BBC said it was the most complaints they had ever recieved. A guy named Simon Price said in his book 'Everything' that it was because it was shortly after the Warrington bomb, but that had been a year previous. Other things like the Greysteel massacre had happened since. I suppose Irish life is cheaper to some people
ZZKe7 1 year ago
It was controversial because of the balaclava worn by James. In Britain, the wearing of balaclavas has long been associated with Irish paramilitary groups (the IRA in particular) who at the time of this performance, were still waging an armed campaign. I suppose that many of those who complained felt the military outfit with the balaclava resembled or showed support for paramilitary organisations, whereas it is quite well known that James was actually trying for the look of an SAS soldier.
tomd2103 1 year ago
@tomd2103
True, but it would be like Jame's going onstage in a burka nowadays.
saneman32 1 year ago
hahaha WTF was that with james wearing that ninja/criminal thing and written 'James' on his forehead??
Very nice performance tho!
frenkovic 1 year ago
I'm still amazed by the muppets jumping up and down to a song that not one of them understands - anyone remember Radiohead performing Paranoid Android on TOTP for the first time? That seemed to stifle the muppets' spirits! LOL
alangarveypoet 1 year ago
The manics are are part of a long line of bands that should not have sold out to the TOTP generation, even metal gods Judas Priest appeared. I do remeber watchng this performance and the number of wankers that called in to the BBC to complain about the paramilitary look of the band.
cruekid2001 1 year ago
I love this so much.
137100MJ 1 year ago
Haha more important than the Sex Pistols, eh? Give me a break, theyre playing to a BACKING TRACK. How controversial!!!! I'm so scared....
TheFriendlyfinger 1 year ago
@TheFriendlyfinger Everybody had to do that you arsehole.
birdy47 1 year ago 4
It's an incredible incendiary performance - but how 'live' is it? Are the vocals 'live' over a backing track, or is it all played live?
z00ts00t77 1 year ago
@z00ts00t77 Seems like vocals live over the album instrumental with just the harmony vocals as far as I can tell...
zararity 1 year ago
@z00ts00t77 It's the vocals over the album track's instrumental - that's how pretty much all of Top of the Pops was done.
elbingo 1 year ago
At the rime this caused teh BBC switchboard to light up like an Xmas tree.....
karadordarkraven 1 year ago
Awesome!
hysteresiscure 1 year ago
sailor suit ftw
makky123 1 year ago
Vic and Bob = WANKERS
MSP = HEROES!!!!
BejnXander 1 year ago
Vic and Bob and the Manics, anarchist TOTP then? lol
mint5fee1 1 year ago
Read Rob Jovanivic's 'A Version of Reason' to get the band's take on why James wore the mask.
AndkathDhabi 1 year ago
Great book!
BejnXander 1 year ago
Fucking awesome. They were like a gang with no fear bringing subversion in through the front door howling, with a studio audience robbed of sentience by cameras.
thisusernameisme 1 year ago
Oh Wire, your legs never stop moving...
I love how all of those kids are dancing around and smiling, they have no idea what the song's even about.
It's performances like these that make me realise why I love this band. They never held back, even on a show like this.
'I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing' and 'Self-disgust is self-obsession, honey, and I do as I please' are some of the best lyrics Richey and Nick have ever written.
f0rce0fnature 1 year ago
never seen the kids enjoying themselves so much vic and bob kakking themselves.. how music should be , scary as hell
ploopyism 2 years ago
ummm why did they make such a fuss about him wearing a balaclava??? just bcoz he looked a bit like a terrorist lol. i cant find this on any sites, but apparently a lot of fuss was made about it. WHY??? Surely the british public have got something better to do than moan about everything?? No, they haven't, it seems.
PS dont ask about my username its a long story :)
lovedmontylovedennis 2 years ago
Because British people during the 70s, 80s and 90s associated the wearing of balaclavas + military uniforms with the Irish Republican Army, who were still, at the time of broadcast, conducting a campaign of bombings against British civilians in major cities around the country and were widely despised by the unintelligent right and tabloid readers, the exact same demographic who like to complain to Ofcom with boring, spurious theories about declining standards in the media.
Herzog1012 2 years ago 10
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karlmarx71 2 years ago
@Herzog1012....Priceless reply/...thanks.
@lovemontylovedennis.....do you actually think anyone gives a toss???
Ps James was making a statement as ever.
karlmarx71 2 years ago
@Herzog1012 The bombings were aimed at economic targets and not civilians! Long warnings were always given. However, civilians were injured and about 6 killed.
gordieK 1 year ago
@gordieK I wasn't making any criticism. I was merely providing the background to the Manics performance.
Still, your statistics are inaccurate.
Herzog1012 1 year ago
TOTP was bollocks anyway, all that show ever got was complaints. another pathetic example was when the prodigy got to number 1 and viewers phoned in saying that the 'firestarter' video was too scary!
Bretwantsfun 1 year ago
I love Vic's stunned look. It took him a while to put his 'funny' face back on.
NeilRob1985 2 years ago
2:35 - 2:44 = LOL
zionravescene 2 years ago
What was the big deal that was made about James wearing a balaclava? Why were so many people upset?
unioncitymusic 2 years ago 2
Many ignorant Guardian readers thought it was IRA related.
mentalackack 2 years ago
Many ignorant Manics fans thought they were the new Sex Pistols.
bighoody 2 years ago
New Sex Pistols?
Nah.
Far more important than them.
vinunleaded 2 years ago 74
@vinunleaded Damn right.
Corneliustheamoeba 1 year ago
still at least none of them have become butter salesmen
maestroshep 2 years ago 4
Because he resembled an IRA terrorist.
NeilRob1985 2 years ago
The Clash once swore they would never go on Top Of The Pops. Silly that, because MSP have proved that safe, family-oriented institutions like TOTP, were always ripe for Situationist-style subversion. Its only surprising it took any band until 1994 to figure this out.
dm18876 2 years ago 47
@dm18876 Robert Wyatt figured that out in 1974...he 'subversively' wanted to use his wheelchair. Producers wanted him to sit in a wicker chair. He won but was told he'd never play TOTP again...and it got the highest amount of complaints until this performance. Just to show how 'reasoned' the parents who complained were (as it was they, not the kids I'm thinking). Pitiful...
timbearcub 1 year ago
@dm18876 When Nirvana went on TOTP's it waas prob the best thing that i have ever seen.
birdy47 1 year ago
@dm18876 You really don't get it. If you did you wouldn't fuck about selecting shite music programmes. just live it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
exkirkby 1 year ago
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dm18876 1 year ago
@exkirkby An important pre-requisite of 'selection' (of shit music TV programmes or otherwise), is choice. And there was fuck all of that about in 1994 - not as many people had satellite/cable then, as they do now. And even the choices now, are dubious to say the least.
dm18876 1 year ago
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@exkirkby An important pre-requisite of 'selection' (of shit music TV programmes or otherwise), is choice. And there was fuck all of that about in 1994 - not as many people had satellite/cable then, as they do now. And even the choices now, are dubious to say the least. Granted TOTP wasn't the only music prog,, but you took what scraps you were fed - making moments like this stand out more.
dm18876 1 year ago
@dm18876 Nirvana figured it out a little earlier...
SamPabloKuper 11 months ago
And now the punchline......its a good job they didn't go on Richard & Judy.
dm18876 2 years ago 4
An absolute classic performance, this :)
liquidrunning 2 years ago
Th Manics are the fearlessness of intelligence- they need to be heard. I love that song so much its quite ridiculous x
madiihum 2 years ago 2
Well, I personally find your attitude disgusting. Maybe us Brits are easily riled, but at least we don't go spreading incitement to homophobic violence like you do in that comment. Maybe when you grow up you'll realise a) land areas can't be gay and b) you should not go attacking gay people or indeed "gay countries". Keep your prejudices to yourself.
Wallamanage 2 years ago 6
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You Brits get so riled up over anything. Second to the Americans I guess. In Canada we wear those hats in winter with no such silly terrorist associations. How gay your two countries are at times. No wonder you get attacked.
BayviewFinch 2 years ago
Lol, remember mate, if we get riled up over everything then so does the best part of you *cough* country. Remember this mate, your either British or French.
daryl4classic 2 years ago
i really enjoyed that record. did you love?
machoTit 2 years ago 8
manics is the bestest i think
huthut91 2 years ago 2
Dance TOTP bitches;dance !!!!!!!!!
Sorry I just couldn't let it lie.....
jakesladder1 2 years ago 8
superb effort wearing wooly winter wear in a boiling hot studio by the Welsh Wizards
BadEggCymru 2 years ago 2
I looooove this performance, the contrast of James screaming his head off in a balaclava while the TOTP crowd dance like grinning idiots is awesome...
KrisRamJ 2 years ago 6
printscreen?
LoomVideos 2 years ago 2
Yeah, the Nirvana one is just a total piss take. I remember Kurt saying that he was singin like Morrissey for a laugh. Dave Grohl mincing about behind the drums is always a funny site. Think the reason i love the Manics performance so much is just because so many people got and still get offended by it as shown by some of the numpties comments on here lol!
Squemby 2 years ago
the best things come out of wales dont forget it have some respect
welshterrorist 2 years ago
Lol, ok you have sheep and the best band in the world right now, but england has Aston Martins and 75% of The Clash. Your move :-)
daryl4classic 2 years ago
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balaclavas aren't exclusive to the IRA.
Besides Bobby Sands is a twat whichever way u look at it
BejnXander 2 years ago
A friend of mine was killed by the British Army in the north of ireland. However, you have to live with the consequences if you choose a side in a conflict. Your uncle picked a side too I'm afraid.
gordieK 2 years ago
This is THE greatest ever TOTP performance in my opinion. Right at the top of the show aswell. You can just imagine all those middle class torys choking on their cucumber sandwiches when they tuned in to watch some middle of the road, soft rock and pop acts of the 90's and got hit with this hahaahaha!
Squemby 2 years ago 4
grow up mate
fifiragdoll 2 years ago
get a sense of humour mate.
HeadlightMorningGlow 2 years ago
hahahaha what is the point of this comment!?
CattledMerchants 2 years ago
that is possible one of the best youtube comments I have ever seen. fair play!
braddersthemod 2 years ago
The manics during their gimp mask phase!!
JAYROX1969 2 years ago 3
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The Old IRA was brilliant...but now it has just been pointless.I still hate the english though
Philip424 2 years ago
Gentlemen bombers. Always gave warnings. Typically British. They didn't want to be British, but they were.
hump3 2 years ago 5
I hate when you come on here just to watch a band and the next thing you roll down through the comments and feel obliged to set idiots,like yourself,straight. People from the North of Ireland aren't British and never have been,it's called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,which makes them from the UK. People from the North can also have Irish passports.What happened in the past was wrong but the fact that u've got 3 tumps up shows the level of ignorants that still remains.
gretgael1 2 years ago
Ignorance*
gretgael1 2 years ago
Comment removed
JAYROX1969 2 years ago
I see your politics are as sophisticated as your spelling.
gordieK 2 years ago
No mate, you hate the British Government. If I remember, when you bombed the Brighton hotel, alot of us were furious that you didn't kill maggie
daryl4classic 2 years ago
Youd swear th I.R.A. were the only people to wear a bally
breno316 2 years ago
we need some of this in the US
darlingcitrus 2 years ago 2
Has there ever been a more brilliant song played on that programme than this?
ineebriate 2 years ago 5
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Perfect. Life is for the cold made warm but they are just lizards indeed. The vocal sounds live but I thought everythign was mimed on TOTP
bardamu6 2 years ago
No, most of the early 90 performances I've seen are sung, but the instruments are playback.
HeadlightMorningGlow 2 years ago
Im sure it was the early to mid 90's David Icke went on his 'the world is run by Lizards' thing! Hes not alone it seems lol!
Squemby 2 years ago
They don't make 'em like that anymore...
A brilliant song.
Baggers666 3 years ago 9
yes dad
velvetrevolution07 2 years ago 3
Haha.
Baggers666 2 years ago
One of the biggest scandals in British TV history, haha! Awesome song by an awesome band off their most awesome album.
Tiortranew 3 years ago
Totally agree.I continued to be a Manics fan after Everything must go but the unsettling edge went with Richey Edwards.
firenza74 3 years ago 2
..The sarcasm of Vic and Bob.
And the audience, the same sort of people that thought it was hip to like the Manics after Design for Life..
hofsteveO 3 years ago
this was before design for life
talkinglemon 3 years ago 2
IF you think Design for Life was before FASTER then you must be one of those people who thought the manics were "hip"
mellowNdark 3 years ago
Read my comment again, wally...
Where did I say Design for Life was before Faster?..
hofsteveO 3 years ago
Of course..
Why would anyone think it wasnt?..
hofsteveO 3 years ago
They were banned from TOTPafter this..
hofsteveO 3 years ago
thats nothing, i was kiked out of school for wearing an IRA style balaclava with my school jumper.
OidarylOI 3 years ago 4
hahahaha thats funny
puketastic666 2 years ago
haha. An IRA balaclava to freak out the old grannies at 7pm on a thursday night!
velvetrevolution07 2 years ago
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What a tasteless thing to do. You think the IRA are cool you ignorant shit?
shenanigan55 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
You got trolled
guywholikesfood 2 years ago
You're the ignorant one! James Dean-Bradfield wore the balaclava because the lyrics were so raw to Richy's ideas and thoughts at the time, he felt he needed to be behind a mask as not to fool people into thinking they were his lyrics. His voice is his instrument as well as his guitar. And as for the rest of the military suits, the band wore them to show their solidarity to each other and the music they were creating. They weren't about TOTP or ratings, they were about the music and the band.
DrewQBizzle 2 years ago 4
I wasn't referring to their performance, i was replying to a post
shenanigan55 2 years ago
And The I.R.A weren't the only people who wore balaclavas, so who's saying the I.R.A are cool? Perhaps you should read up on their musical background before you start pointing fingers, "you ignorant shit"!
DrewQBizzle 2 years ago
Easy tiger! he's Irish so he's bound to be more sensitive to the image and you should respect that.
velvetrevolution07 2 years ago
I do mate.
OidarylOI 2 years ago 2
who doesn't lol
daryl4classic 2 years ago
It's got nothing to do with the IRA. It was part of their military image. And the IRA weren't the only people to wear the fucking things.
MarxBakuninMe 2 years ago 7
They probably did it for a laugh and for the controversy. It was 1994 during the terrorism campaign, when balaclavas were an all too common sight on the TV news. It was part of the times.
velvetrevolution07 2 years ago
James says himself on the ten anniversary of the Holy Bible dvd,one of the reasons he wore it was that it represented to middle England a SYMBOL of the IRA,No one's it's exclusive to the IRA.
boymanic 2 years ago
James says on the bible video that it was a symbol of the IRA and that it got up 'middle englands' nose as there were mixed impressions of the balaclava ie para military and military - on one hand you had 'terrorists' on the other you had 'special forces' as JDB says. The whole point is that it is supposed to be ambiguous and so - has got everything to do with the IRA and nothing to do with it at the same time.
Squemby 2 years ago 8
I think it was funny, I was there at the time lol!
daryl4classic 2 years ago
t'was a bet mind...
OidarylOI 2 years ago
@hofsteveO No they weren't!
skytoweruk 1 year ago
Hmm funny, i know totp isn't still going now but if it were songs like this would never be played.
ekul7290 3 years ago 3
Its Kendo Nagasaki! Actually this guy isnt the first to wear a balaclava on totp, Jimmy Saville wore one 1n 1971! How's about that then!!
JAYROX1969 3 years ago 2
Absolute fucking genius.
bb50 3 years ago
nycitykops: stop talking utter fucking shit.
HeadlightMorningGlow 3 years ago 4
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he isn't allowed to call himself an architect its a protected title by law and also balaclavas are illegal now but this was a while ago so i'll let that one slide yeah yeah yeah
nycitykops 3 years ago
The greatest moment in the history of British television.
perpitbla5 3 years ago 4
I love all the goofey dancing tossers in the audience. I gather that the majority had no idea what James is singing about. If ever there was a song that was antithetical to pop culture, it is this song. Also James' brief solo is one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. "Man Kills Everything" as the wanking pop mavens dance on like true automatons. This is true poetic irony at its finest.
Rollo7 3 years ago 15
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but motorcycle emptiness has to be one of the worst songs ever, they were just rubbish post richey edwards
nycitykops 3 years ago
motorcycle emptiness was written when Richey was in the band, on their first album, you retard
initmushblingbrap 3 years ago 8
The people in the audience probably kinda have to do that, but I see what you're saying.
EstebanCambiassoARG 3 years ago
do the people who made the complaints sit in the alps and call the police everytime they see someone wearing a ski mask!!
boeingbloke777 3 years ago 3
The defining moment of my youth.
BlastastiC 3 years ago 3
Still rememebr it clearly to this day..
Absolutley uplifting..
hofsteveO 3 years ago
Check out the girl at the end,fucking priceless! hahahahahahahaa
bstrdmissed 3 years ago 6