“Why is writing your own material such an obsession for so many people? They should be grateful we don’t write songs. They’d be terrible”: Manfred Mann has no time for his own back catalogue

Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

With a stream of hit singles in their early days and a reputation for covering other artists’ work in a surprising and enthralling manner, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band continue to perform today. But in 2014, South African-born band leader Mann told Prog he’d never been in pursuit of a career-defining release – and explained what motivated him instead.

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