Manic Street Preachers were formed in 1986 in Blackwood, Wales. Composed of James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, lead guitar), Nicky Wire (backing vocals, bass guitar), Richey Edwards (rhythm guitar) and Sean Moore (drums), they released three albums between 1992 and 1994 and were noted for their intense anger, post-punk influenced sound and political lyrics, as well as their controversial performances. Songwriting duties were shared across the band, with Edwards writing most of the lyrics and Bradfield writing the music, though Wire also contributed lyrics.
Edwards disappeared in February 1995 following the release of the band’s seminal album, The Holy Bible.
The band continued as a three piece, with Wire assuming sole lyrical duties. During this period, the band had hits with songs such as “The Masses Against The Classes”, “Your Love Alone Is Not Enough” and “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next”. Their albums Everything Must Go and This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours also achieved chart success.
Richey Edwards was legally declared dead in 2009, fourteen years after his disappearance. The band turned a folder of Richey’s writings into songs and released Journal For Plague Lovers, which received the best reviews of any Manics album since The Holy Bible.