Nicholas Allen Jones (Nicky Wire),of the Manic Street Preachers performing on the main stage at the On Blackheath Music Festival

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. Wire is a founding member of the Manic Street Preachers and was originally rhythm guitarist, but changed to playing bass guitar after original bassist Flicker left the band. He co-wrote the band's lyrics with Richey Edwards between 1989 and 1995, taking over sole responsibility following Edwards' disappearance. Some of Edwards' lyrics were used on 1996's Everything Must Go album, making 1998's This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours the first album with lyrics by Wire alone. Wire usually plays Gibson Thunderbird, Rickenbacker, Fender Jazz and most recently Italia Maranello basses, one of which is a custom made acoustic model made by request for the band's 2007 acoustic sessions. Nicky chose the pseudonym Wire because of his lanky, "wirey" frame (he is 6'3"). He often dons a dress or a skirt for the Manics' gigs, although he has curtailed his flamboyance somewhat in recent years. Wire's cross-dressing dates back to his teens, when he would go to local pubs in Blackwood wearing a dress; he has however been keen to emphasise that he is not a transvestite. He puts his attraction to glam and women's clothes at least in part down to his very close relationship to his mother. Wire is notorious for his outspoken attitude and has been known to cause controversy in the press. He once stated during a 1992 gig, "In this season of goodwill, let’s pray that Michael Stipe goes the same way as Freddie Mercury pretty soon'. However, he has since expressed regret for the remark; stating that it was misinterpreted and "didn't come out the way [he] wanted it to. Wire has noted that his band has taken "inspiration from Queen, " Mercury's band, as well as being noted fans of R.E.M.'s earlier albums. In November 2007, he was recruited as Chair of the Advisory Board for the new commercial Xfm