Richey James Edwards

Richey James Edwards (1967-1995?) is the missing member of the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.

About

Born on December 22 1967 he attended Oakdale Comprehensive and later (1986-1989) University of Wales Swansea where he graduated with a 2:1 degree in history.

Related Topics:
December 22 - 1967 - University of Wales Swansea - Graduate - Degree - History

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He has one sister named Rachel. Richey was highly intelligent from a young age. During his adolescence he once wrote an essay on William Shakespeare that was 859 pages long. When he was asked about it, he said "I didn't have anything else to do". By the time he was 16 he had read the complete works of Shakespeare and Philip Larkin. But although he was a prodigious pupil, he loathed the didactic nature of school, and would sometimes faint in the morning assemblies so that he would not have to face the day ahead.

Related Topics:
Sister - William Shakespeare - Philip Larkin

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In the beginning Richey was basically the driver and roadie for the band, but after Flicker the bass guitarist left, he stepped in. More often than not he was miming on the guitar, but he was, along with bassist Nicky Wire, the lyricist of the band, and Richey is said to have written approximately 75% of the lyrics on The Holy Bible, whereas before this, Nicky and Richey wrote roughly 50% each. They are both credited for the lyrics of all the songs up until Richey's disappearance, while the songs Richey alone wrote the lyrics for on Everything Must Go are credited only to him.

Related Topics:
Flicker - Bass guitar - Miming

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1991 saw him gain notoriety when, on May 15, NME journalist Steve Lamacq questioned the Manics' seriousness at the Norwich Arts Centre. In response, Richey took out a razor blade and carved "4 Real" into his forearm. The injury required a trip to the hospital where he received seventeen stitches.

Related Topics:
1991 - May 15 - NME - Journalist - Steve Lamacq - Norwich - Razor - Forearm - Injury - Hospital - Stitches

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He suffered severe bouts of depression and often self-harmed mainly by stubbing out cigarettes on his body and cutting himself. His problems with eating and alcohol were well known, and he was, according to Nicky Wire, "on the verge of anorexia" when he was at his worst. After the release of the band's third album The Holy Bible, he checked into The Priory psychiatric hospital, missing out on some of the promotional work for the album and forcing the band to appear as a three piece at the Reading Festival.

Related Topics:
Depression - Self-harm - Cigarette - Alcohol - Anorexia - The Holy Bible - The Priory - Reading Festival

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After coming out of the hospital Richey toured Europe with the Manics, Suede, and Therapy? but was never the same again.

Related Topics:
Europe - Suede - Therapy?

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