Manic Street Preachers

MANIC STREET PREACHERS. Alternative rock band from Wales first formed in 1986 who became prominent in the 1990s following their debut album Generation Terrorists in 1992. Their combination of glam-punk imagery and outspoken songs about "culture, boredom and dispair" soon gained them a loyal following and cult status. Enigmatic lyricist Richey Edwards gained early notoriety by carving the words "4REAL" into his arm with a razor blade (narrowly missing an artery and requiring seventeen stitches) in response to the suggestion that the band were less than authentic. The dark nature of 1994's The Holy Bible reflected the culmination of Edwards' instability. He then mysteriously vanished on 1st February 1995 and was later declared presumed deceased in November 2008. It is widely thought that he took his own life whilst in a depressed state by jumping off The Severn Bridge , however many theorys and fan-sightings supposedly exist which will ensure his cult status will remain. Following Edwards' disappearance, Bradfield, Moore, and Wire persisted with the Manic Street Preachers and went on to gain critical and commercial success, becoming one of Britain's premier rock bands. They have had eight top ten albums and fifteen top ten singles. They have reached number one three times, with their 1998 album This Is The Truth Tell Me Yours and the singles "If You Tolerate Your Children" (1998) and "The Masses Against The Classes" (2000). They won the Best British Album and Best British Group accolades at The Brit Awards in 1997 and 1999 and were lauded by the NME for their lifetime achievements in 2008. Their ninth studio album, Journal For Plaque Lovers was released on 18 May 2009 and features lyrics Edwards had left behind to the band weeks before his disappearance.