HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Richey Edwards
Welsh rock band MANIC STREET PREACHERS were eagerly anticipating a US tour to promote their third studio album, The Holy Bible (1994). The band were making waves within the industry and garnering fans across the world with their dark and thought-provoking lyrics.
Founding members James Dean Bradfield and Richey Edwards were scheduled to fly out to America on 1st February 1995, but Edwards would be a no-show. Although his failure to arrive for the scheduled flight was out of character for the musician, it was well-known at the time that Edwards struggled with his mental health. He often spoke openly about his struggles with anorexia in interviews, and had been subject to much public scrutiny following a high profile incident with NME in 1991. Edwards had recently been admitted at the Priory Clinic in London for his struggles with alcoholism and self-harm and it was later revealed he had also engaged in discussion with his bandmates about the potential for him to take a backseat in the group. He expressed a desire to focus solely on writing lyrics, rather than performing with the band. So when he first disappeared, it was speculated by some, that the daunting prospect of yet another demanding tour schedule may have led Edwards to go into hiding.
When bandmates, management, family and friends failed to reach or locate Edwards over the ensuing days however, it became clear that this was more than a case of pre-tour cold feet and a missing persons report was made to Cardiff police. Though the investigation managed to piece together a rough timeline of events and unearthed some clues, like Edwards’ car being located with the steering lock fitted near the Severn Bridge, no concrete evidence of his whereabouts could be found and the case eventually went cold.
This month marks 30 years since the musician vanished aged just 27, and although theories abound, there are still no definitive answers as to what happened on that cold February day. There have been no confirmed sightings of Edwards, and no activity on his bank account has been reported in the years since. Due to the location in which his car was discovered, it is widely believed that Richey Edwards took his own life on the day he went missing, although his body has never been recovered.
The disappearance and presumed death of Richey Edwards profoundly impacted the three remaining band members; James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore, who had been friends since childhood. The group reportedly came close to disbanding in the aftermath, but with the blessing of the Edwards family, Bradfield, Moore and Wire found the strength to persist as a trio. What followed was an album that would become a staple of the 90s Alternative music scene. Despite being in the midst of tragedy and grief, Everything Must Go (1996) emerged as a much less dark and brooding offering than The Holy Bible had been. The album delivered an anthemic sound and packed a punch, with Edwards having already worked alongside Wire to pen the lyrics prior to his disappearance.
Released on 20th May 1996, the more accessible sound of Everything Must Go catapulted MANIC STREET PREACHERS into the mainstream. The album, alongside the single A Design For Life, charted at #2 in the UK, making the group a household name. With their growing commercial success, the band arranged to keep a quarter of profits made aside in an account for Edwards, in the hopes that they might some day be reunited with the missing member. They agreed that in the event he remained missing, or was found to no longer be alive, his share would be given to the Edwards family.
THE MANICS followed Everything Must Go with their most successful album to date, This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours. Released 14th September 1998, the album and lead single If You Tolerate This, Then Your Children Will Be Next both reached the #1 spot in the UK. The album was the first written entirely by bassist Nicky Wire without the lyrical input of Edwards, who had been missing for three years at the time of the album’s release. Drifting further still from their more punk inspired origins, This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours continued the theme of a more melodic pop-rock sound from the group.
In the years since, THE MANICS have released several albums to varying levels of commercial and critical success. This includes Journal for Plague Lovers, an album comprised entirely of songs written solely by Richey Edwards, which was released in May 2009, 6 months after Edwards was declared legally dead in absentia.
Today, MANIC STREET PREACHERS remain a beloved centerpiece of the UK rock industry, and are slated to release their next album, Critical Thinking, on Valentine’s Day this year.
You are not alone – If you are affected by any of the topics in this article, or feel you need any help or support, please find a list of resources below:
Samaritans: Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
BEAT: The UK’s Eating Disorder Charity – Beat
Mind: Home – Mind
NHS Support: Mental health services – NHS