Nicky Wire missed celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary to perform at Absolute Radio's 10th Birthday party on Tuesday (25.09.18).

Nicky Wire

Nicky Wire

The 49-year-old bassist joined his Manic Street Preachers bandmates James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore to top the bill at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire and though he was happy to be there for the radio station's bash, he missed his own milestone with wife Rachel.

He told the crowd: "Today is my silver wedding anniversary. I know what you're thinking - I don't look old enough... Cracking day.

"We're here, where we first lived when we moved to London [instead]."

The band were performing their final gig of 2018 and had the sell-out crowd dancing and cheering throughout their set, which included early hits such as opener 'Motorcycle Emptiness' and 'You Love Us', as well as tracks from their latest album, 'Resistance is Futile', including 'International Blue', 'People Give In' and 'Hold Me Like a Heaven', and a cover of The Cure's 'In Between Days' before ending the night with a rousing rendition of the anthemic 'A Design For Life'.

Blossoms had opened the show - which was hosted by Absolute Radio DJs Dave Berry and Danielle Perry - with a well-received seven-song set, including favourites 'There's a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)' 'Honey Sweet' and 'Charlemagne'.

Second on the bill was George Ezra who kept the crowd entertained with talk about his travels in between favourites like 'Paradise' and 'Budapest', despite admitting he had planned to be the "moody artiste" on stage.

Speaking ahead of his performance, he told Breakfast Show presenter Dave: "I'm not joking, I do it at every single gig. Before you see me go on tonight, I'll be stern and stoic. And then the lights, I walk on stage, and oh! It's like an old friend."

Fans can head to https://absoluteradio.co.uk to see interviews and performances from the night, and listen to Absolute Radio for highlights.

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