Nicky Wire, bassist and founding member of Welsh rock group Manic Street Preachers, is a long term fan of Italia basses.

He’s a huge fan of the Italia Maranello Classic bass, and has them in red sparkle, silver sparkle, and gold sparkle.

The Manics, after playing the 2008 festival circuit, are working on their ninth album and have said the new album will be "very heavy, very angular, very meaningful”.

Earlier this year the Manics won the coveted ‘God Like Geniuses’ award at the NME awards ceremony, following in the footsteps of the likes of The Clash, New Order, and Primal Scream.

http://www.myspace.com/manics

www.arbiter.co.uk/italia