Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

What this video is

Released 24 August 1998 on Epic Records, 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next' arrived at a pivotal moment for British alternative rock — Britpop's hedonism had begun to fracture and a more politically austere, historically literate strain of guitar music was emerging. Inspired by the Spanish Civil War and Welsh volunteers in the International Brigades, the song drew on George Orwell's 'Homage to…

Why it matters

A landmark in post-Britpop alternative rock and politically engaged British pop video-making. The track demonstrated that chart-dominating UK rock could carry serious historical and anti-fascist content without commercial compromise. Its success validated the Manic Street Preachers' longstanding…

The director

Andrew John Whiston (born 4 January 1964), known professionally as W.I.Z., is an English director of films and music videos. Described by the BFI as 'one of the greatest ever British music video directors,' he was hand-picked to study with Polish master…