The Man band first came together as the Bystanders in 1964. The band were one of many pop bands in the sixties that were trying to climb the ladder of success and managed to release many singles during the period between 1964 and 1968. The band became Man when Deke Leonard from another Welsh band The Dream joined and the band signed to Pye records.

The music that the Man band performed however was very much removed from the pop sensibilities of The Bystanders and more in keeping with the West Coast sound of American bands such as The Quicksilver Messenger Service. The band would record two albums for Pye (Revelation and 2ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle) before leaving the label to sign with the more progressively minded Liberty records in 1970 and were to remain with the label until 1976 when they signed with MCA. Following the deal with MCA the band released just one more studio album (The Welsh Connection) before announcing their decision to call it a day following one more tour that would be recorded and finally be released as All’s Well That Ends Well.

Throughout the seventies the band had undergone a number of changes with members coming and going at an alarming rate with Deke Leonard leaving and joining and Martin Ace leaving and also returning briefly. Following the split the various members all concentrated on solo projects but it wasn’t until 1983 that the band decided to re form and head out on the road and play gigs and record again. The re formed band played many concerts and recorded several albums which consolidated the bands solid reputation.

Following the departure of Deke Leonard for a solo carer and Micky Jones on health grounds the Man band went through another of their regular line up changes although this time there was a new twist. There was a family element to the change. In came George Jones son of founder Mickey Jones and also joining o second guitar was Josh Ace son of long time member Martin Ace. The band went into the studios in 2005 and the resulting album (The bands first since 2000’s Endangered Species) Diamonds and Coal was the end result. A new chapter for Man  Diamonds and Coal marks the recording debut with Man for both George Jones and Josh Ace and more poignantly the first Man album without Micky Jones.

With tracks such as the Teddy Boys Picnic and the title track Diamonds and Coal already having received a positive reaction from the fans in a live setting the new album promises to be a popular release with the large and devoted fan base of this band who are fast approaching their fortieth anniversary as a working band.