Nicky Wire insists the band is not splitting
Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers has dimissed claims that the band are set to split, insisting that their upcoming hiatus will help them discover a new sound.
The Welsh group is launching a greatest hits album later in October and performing all 38 singles released since 1991 at a special show in London at Christmas.
Wire previously revealed that the rockers are preparing to take two years away from the spotlight and fans began to worry about the groups future.
Wire insists the band will be back with a more 'indulgent' sound in the future.
Wire tells BBC Radio 4's Front Row show, "This (album) is drawing a line in the sand, really. When we come back it will be the final phase of us as a band and it has to be in a different form.
"We can't pretend a band in their 40s making guitar rock can have huge hit singles, because it just doesn't happen any more unless you totally sell out every single bit of your life. (It will be) something that is more indulgent I guess."
He is also determined that when the rockers make their comeback, they will continue to release albums of their material and not just sell records online.
He adds: ""I think I'd rather just sell CDs from our studio in Cardiff at the door. Just ask people to queue up and hand over a tenner or fiver. The kind of virtual anarchy that exists online - it's just not in our DNA. It's not relevant to us and by trying too hard to embrace it, I think demeans you a bit. It's fine for a generation who literally think music is for free."
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