Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire has defended Biffy Clyro after the band’s hit ‘Many Of Horror’ was covered by the winner of this year’s X Factor.

The Ayrshire group have come under fire after Matt Cardle released the song, retitled ‘When We Collide’, as a Christmas single.

In an interview with XFM, Wire said it was impossible to prevent The X Factor from using an existing song.

“You can’t stop a song from being a brilliant song,” he said.

“I remember back with [Oasis’] 'Wonderwall' when everyone started – and this is pre-X-Factor – when Mike Flowers and the Pops did 'Wonderwall' and stuff, what could Noel do about it? You can’t stop a runaway train.”

He added: “They are perfectly within their rights to say the new version is utter shit, I’m sure they think that, but it’s not easy for bands to make money these days. I’m lucky I saw the good times.”

Wire also said that if an X Factor winner was to ever cover one of Manic Street Preachers’ tracks it should be ‘Archives Of Pain’.

(by Jason Gregory)