Richey Edwards them as executors of his estate and further stating that he died "on or since" 1 February 1995. The ninth album by Manic Street Preachers, "Journal for Plague Lovers", released on 18 May 2009, is composed entirely of songs with lyrics left behind by Edwards. Up until 2005, the remaining members of Manic Street Preachers still paid 25% royalties into an account in his name. Richey Edwards (often referred to during his years with Manic Street Preachers as Richey James) was born and raised in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales. He has one younger sister, Rachel, who was born in 1969. Edwards
Manic Street Preachers someone (sometimes said to be a homeless man) who asked him "What are you, boyo, some kind of manic street preacher?" Original bassist Flicker (Miles Woodward) left the band in early 1988, reportedly because he believed that the band were moving away from their punk roots. The band continued as a three-piece, with Wire switching from guitar to bass, and in 1988 they released their first single, "Suicide Alley". Despite its recording quality, this punk ode to youthful escape provides an early insight into both Bradfield's guitar work and Moore's live drumming, the latter of which would be absent from