NME 11 MAY 1996

... Over in Bristol, Sean was ironing his shirts. This was a job he preferred to do himself and since the band was getting busy again, he’d need to stock up on fresh clothes. Later on, he figured, if the weather was right, he might even creosote the fence. Sean, like Nicky, had found a kind of contentment with his “amazingly boring” lifestyle. Here was a generation terrorist who enjoyed DIY, as well as amassing loads of hi-fi and computer-ware. If the song “A Design For Life” was written about the control of the masses - keeping the proles down with economic and social restraints - then Sean took some satisfaction in the knowledge that he was bucking the financial trend by spending his way out of the recession. Even so, he didn’t think the band’s chart success (94,000 copies sold in a week) was worth a special celebration. When his Mum had told him earlier that she’d bought a bottle of champagne, Sean told her that she should only pop the cork if the record went straight in at Number One.

During the interview Sean is mainly quiet, only butting in when he feels that his friends haven’t expressed a point as accurately as they might.

Since the Manics went away in ‘94, we’ve seen a new type of fan emerging - the Britpop kid. Did you worry about how you’d fit in with this changing audience?

Sean: Young people are more accustomed now to guitar-based music.

Wouldn’t it have been better to play a small warm-up show instead?

Sean: It’s much harder in a small gig anyway, you might recognise a few faces.

On R’s disappearance: From the day he left, we know nothing. Absolute zero. And on R’s drinking: It was a companion.

After they smashed £8,000 worth of gear at the final Astoria gig, Sean drove back with Richey the next day. Sean: “Quiet and calm, had a nice Christmas” Richey gave Nicky the lyrics first and Nicky said “oh why don’t you give them to Sean over Christmas?” Sean had them and then he did photocopies.

So basically, you’re keeping an open mind?

Sean: We’re waiting for the next clue to come along... Obviously if he is alive, he doesn’t want to be found.