´óÏó´«Ã½

Will you ever consider playing small clubs and venues in the US? I live in New Orleans and would love to see you guys - Caz, New Orleans

We'd love to, but it's so expensive to do America. The days of record company support for tours which existed in those glorious early 90s have gone. It's a tricky one - at the moment we've got different fish to fry really. We've got plans to go, but it's pointless finalising things because we usually end up cancelling!

Where did you play your first gig before you were famous? - Amy, Auckland, NZ

It was about 1986 at the Railway Hotel in Crumlin. It ended in a riot because a couple of people dropped bottles by mistake and everything thought it had kicked off. It just turned into a disaster. We did Teenage Kicks, Ever Fallen In Love and Just Like Honey.

Did you decide to play Cardiff University on the back of James' solo gig there? I was there and the atmosphere was amazing - Marc, Cardiff

I think it's just about reconnecting. We've been in the trap of arenas and we've enjoyed that, but we've got so many good memories of Cardiff Uni from Generation Terrorists onwards. We did some amazing gigs there actually. It's a brilliant venue; the Great Hall is one of the great venues.

Is the Manic Street Preachers a meritocracy? I have my suspicions that Nicky always gets his way because he's the tallest - Dylan, Cardiff

No, I think we always get our way in different ways. We are a meritocracy but we know what our specific strengths and divisions of labour are. I do the lyrics and the artwork and maybe the overall look is directed from me but then I don't badger James about the music much.

I'm in charge of theories and concepts but I can tell sometimes they're not listening anyway! It's a healthy division of labour anyway. We took it from Public Enemy - me and Richey were the Ministers of Disinformation.

How does it feel to have a second guitarist on stage again? Does it take some of the pressure off James? And why no arenas on this tour? - Steve, Oldham

Taking pressure off James is the idea. He's for so long been playing almost three guitarists really! It's just cool having someone standing in shadows helping us out really. There's no official 'membership' that's for sure.

I think we will be doing some arenas later in the year, but I think if your album's about reconnection then you have to go down that route with everything - doing the gigs we're doing felt much more natural.