Nicky Wire

Nicky Wire
Nicky Wire in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Nicholas Allen Jones
Born	(1969-01-20) 20 January 1969 (age 48) Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales
Origin	Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales
Genres	Alternative rock, hard rock, post-punk, punk rock, glam punk, indie rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, lyricist, songwriter,
Instruments	Bass, vocals, guitar, piano, percussion, omnichord
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Columbia
Associated acts	Manic Street Preachers
Notable instruments
Fender Jazz Bass Rickenbacker bass Italia Maranello Bass

Nicholas Allen Jones (born 20 January 1969), known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers.

Previous to the band, Wire studied politics at university; which would later influence his lyrical work. He was co-writer of the band's lyrics (alongside Richey James Edwards) from 1989 to 1995, and has been the band's primary lyricist from 1995 to the present. In addition to his work with the Manic Street Preachers, Wire released a solo album, I Killed the Zeitgeist, in 2006.

Born Nicholas Allen Jones in Tredegar, Monmouthshire,Wales, Wire is the younger brother of poet and author Patrick Jones. He attended Oakdale Comprehensive School with James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Richey Edwards. Wire played competitive schools football and, aged 14, was captain of the Welsh national schoolboys' team. Although he was offered a trial at both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal football clubs, back and knee problems brought his football career to an end. Wire took A-levels in politics and law. He later attended Portsmouth Polytechnic, but after several months transferred to the University of Wales Swansea, starting his course a year after Edwards. He graduated with a Lower Second-Class Honours degree in Politics, which has led him to comment that he may have pursued a career in the diplomatic service or the Foreign Office.