The story behind the Manics' 'drunk' new album cover

Critical Thinking is Manic Street Preachers' 15th studio album

David Hurn has always had an eye for seizing the moment.

Now the acclaimed photographer has revealed the inspiration behind the new Manic Street Preachers album cover.

It was while on his way to photograph the Navajo native Americans in Arizona that he saw the "strange" and drunken sight that has been used by the Welsh rockers for their latest release.

"I was given a bi-centennial fellowship award by the American government to go to Arizona and photograph," Hurn told Radio Wales Breakfast.

"The picture came about because I had contacts with the Navajo through doctors.

"I was driving to the reservation and went through an area called Painted Desert.

"Suddenly through the windscreen I saw this strange wiggly line. It was almost as if someone drunk had been making a drawing on the road. So I photographed it."

David Hurn is a luminary of the legendary Magnum Photos agency

Critical Thinking is the Manics' 15th studio album and the first to feature the lead vocals of bassist Nicky Wire, a long-time admirer of Hurn who he has described as a "colossus" of modern documentary photography.

The 90-year-old has worked with a remarkable array of stars, including Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Sophia Loren.

But despite once spending weeks behind the scenes with the The Beatles, this is the first time any of his work has featured on the cover of a rock album.

"Back in the '60s I did a few classical album covers but I don't even have the copies of them because they were so bad," laughed Hurn.

"The request came through my agent and when I was asked if it was OK for them [Manics] to use the photo I immediately replied, 'obviously yes'."

Raised in Cardiff but now living in Monmouthshire, Hurn was recently presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award at the 2024 Wales Media Awards for his near-70-year career.

"I never leave the house without a camera," he said.

"It's not that I go looking for a photo but for something that I find interesting and, hopefully, other people will find interesting.

"It's more to do with feeling than sight."