4REAL

My latest obsession is with Richey James Edwards





I dont know if obsession is the right word. As with my past fascinations such as Kurt Cobain and Edie Sedgwick I like collecting all the information I possibly can about them, as well as pretty pictures. But then again, perhaps obsession is correct.

I felt like posting a blog since facebook no longer has the application where you can put photos on your page, where i used to have all my favourite peoples photographs. So I will just post some of my favourite photos of Richey that i have gathered on here instead.

I dont know what it is about these people that I am attracted to. I am like a moth to a flame and I fall in love with each and every one of them for a little while.



Richey was in the band Manic Street Preachers and basically was a genius lyricist. The song Faster (from 1994) is my current favourite (Richey is on the left):

Heres the lyrics:

I hate purity
Hate goodness
I dont want virtue to exist anywhere
I want everyone corrupt

I am an architect, they call me a butcher
I am a pioneer, they call me primitive
I am purity, they call me perverted
Holding you but I only miss these things when they leave

I am idiot drug hive, the virgin, the tattered and the torn
Life is for the cold made warm and they are just lizards
Self-disgust is self-obsession honey and I do as I please
A morality obedient, only to the cleansed repented

I am stronger than mensa, miller and mailer
I spat out plath and pinter
I am all the things that you regret
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell

The first time you see yourself naked you cry
Soft skin now acne, foul breath, so broken
He loves me truly this mute solitude Im draining
I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing

Sleep cant hide the thoughts splitting through my mind
Shadows arent clean, false mirrors too many people awake
If you stand up like a nail then you will be knocked down
Ive been too honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else

I am stronger than mensa, miller and mailer
I spat out plath and pinter
I am all the things that you regret
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell, learnt to spell

So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything

He couldnt play guitar very well, but this didnt stop him from joining the band, as James Dean Bradfield (actual front man of the band) recorded all of the guitar parts on the albums anyway. Richey only ever recorded 2 songs for their albums.

“I dislike my guitar intensely, I can't even be bothered to smash the fucking thing. It doesn't deserve death.” Richey Edwards, 1994



I wrote about Richey in my suicide essay (although I have since changed my mind, and I am not so sure he is dead) so I might as well paste in what I wrote about Richey instead of writing his biography over again. so heres an extract from my essay:


Richey James Edwards was born on 22nd December 1967 in Blackwood, Wales. While growing up he immersed himself in literature, reading the complete works of Shakespeare by the age of 16. In 1989 he joined the Manic Street Preachers and helped them by playing guitar, co writing their lyrics and driving them from gig to gig until he was accepted into the band. Richey had a history of mental illness, including anorexia and self harm, which seemed to come to the surface publicly in 1991. Edwards carved “4 REAL” into his fore arm with a razor blade after a show, in front of a shocked journalist.


While Richey was in the band they released 3 albums; Generation Terrorists (1992), Gold Against the Soul (1993), and The Holy Bible (1994). The Holy Bible is considered the most personal to Edwards who wrote at least 70% of the lyrics. After the release of The Holy Bible in 1994, Edwards checked into rehab, missing a lot of promotional work and touring for the album. The band were due to leave to tour America on the 1st of February 1995, but Edwards disappeared from his London hotel early that morning. The last confirmed sighting of him was near the Severn bridge at a service station, and his car was discovered 2 weeks later on the 14th of February 1995. He was 27 years old. It wasn't until November 2008 that he was officially declared “presumed dead”. "

So Richey could still be out there. I visited the Bridge and the service station he left his car at. This is what made me reconsider my opinion that he killed himself. Im not sure why but just seeing it, it didnt make sense, but then if you are suicidal, nothing would make sense and you would just act. oh well, who knows I doubt anyone ever will.

( I love photos of him wearing the leopard coat. its gorgeous)

Anyway thats who has been all over my brain lately. I listen to the album The Holy Bible at least once a day. It is Brilliant and I highly recommend it.

Richey didnt leave any kind of note when he left, except one to a girl (im not sure how they knew it was for her unless it was in an envolope or something) but it simply said I love you.

But here is a note he wrote, I dont know what for, but I will end this post with it. It sums up Richeys attitude neatly.

I'll do another Richey post sometime soon.

(Hello if anyone actually reads my blog!)