James Dean Bradfield released his debut solo album The Great Westernon 24th July 2006.

Recorded in Wales, Berlin and London, James has played most of the instruments himself and written virtually all the lyrics, a task usually left to his band mate Nicky Wire in the Manic Street Preachers. He decided to write on his own after the Manics vowed to take a break after the release of their last album Lifeblood and as he explains �I missed writing songs and I missed performing music and it�s as simple as that. So I thought; perhaps I've just got to garner some self-confidence to write some stuff of my own.�

He cites a wide range of influences including John Cale, Badfinger, Kyffin Williams (the Anglesey-based landscape painter), Steve Miller Band, Todd Rundgren and Rattlesnakes era Lloyd Cole and sought inspiration from the much travelled journey from Cardiff Central to London Paddington during the recording. However the sound he has created is distinctly his own, powerful modern rock with nagging choruses, topped with James unique soulful vocals.

The album covers coming to terms with and moving on with the triumphs and tragedies of his past but while The Great Western is as grown-up and profound as that sounds; it's shot through with the same primal zeal for melody, urge for power chords and lust for life that have kept James Dean Bradfield at the summit of Britrock for 15 years.