Simon RushworthManic Street Preachers @London Royal Albert Hall, March 26 2026
As a truly titanic 22-song set reached its raucous denouement, James Dean Bradfield pledged to ‘give this a go’ before launching into a visceral version of Condemned To Rock N Roll.
One of three tracks culled from the seminal Generation Terrorists album, digging out the fan favourite deep cut was the boldest of moves. For context, Bradfield and co. hadn’t played the song in 11 long years. The nerves were palpable.
But this was a night all about bravery, courage and ‘giving it a go’. It had to be.
Against the backdrop of so many powerful Teenage Cancer Trust case studies — many of which appeared on the big screen prior to the Manic Street Preachers’ headline set — ‘giving it a go’ felt like the very least Wales’ finest could do.
Of course they gave more. Much, much more. And like every band playing across a week of fundraising shows at the Royal Albert Hall, the Manics gave it all for free.
This was the first time this annual showcase of undisputed rock and roll talent was helmed by a guest curator — a Cureator, no less.
Robert Smith stepped in to fill Roger Daltrey’s considerable shoes following the latter’s decision to step down from a role that had occupied his free time for a quarter of a century.
And the Manics were part of a big-hitting 2026 slate that included Elbow, Garbage, Wolf Alice and more.
Paying homage to the man behind this year’s star-studded shindig, Bradfield stepped up to lead a classy version of The Cure‘s Close To Me. One of two carefully placed covers, it just about pipped This Is The Day by The The.
But the myriad highlights belonged to a band that’s been fusing edgy political narratives with melodic indie rock for 40 years.
Any act that can bookend its show with Motorcycle Emptiness and If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next demands attention and respect in equal measure.
That the Manicas can also throw in La Tristessa Durera (Scream To A Sigh), A Design For Life and You Love Us — the formative punk-fuelled anthem dedicated to Richey Edwards — underlines the band’s storied place in British rock history.
On a night when so many much-missed, absent friends were celebrated and remembered, the name of the Manics’ maverick guitarist (declared dead in absentia in 2008) was cheered to the Royal Albert Hall’s mightily impressive rafters.
Smith, the tireless TCT team and every member of another capacity crowd that helped to raise vital funds for an incredible cause were rewarded with a rock and roll masterclass for the ages.
The Manics gave it a go. And then some.
- Main image courtesy of Teenage Cancer Trust. Make a donation here.