Everything (A Book About Manic Street Preachers) by Simon Price Virgin, 1999 284 pp Available from Amazon.com.

Everything chronicles the rise of enigmatic Welsh rockers the Manic Street Preachers, following the self-proclaimed "Generation Terrorists" from their humble working class beginnings through to their current stadium-rocking zeitgeist. The book even recounts, in elaborate detail the disappearance of original guitarist/lyricist Richey James Edwards and the band's painful decision to continue on without him. This exhaustive history was pieced together by author Simon Price using interviews with band members, friends, family, management, fans and of course time spent on the road with the band. The book does more than simply tell the Manics' story; it delves into their lives, answering the questions so many have wanted to ask and showing that after all is said and done, they are only human beings. The book also includes never-before-seen pictures of the band at gigs, at home and during closed-door video shoots. Whether you're a religiously devoted Manics fan, a casual admirer or just a rock fan looking for a good read, Everything is a story worth checking out.

Reviewed by Jason Jackowiak