Musical Tragedies - Richey James Edwards

Those readers who have developed an astute taste in Radiohead will know of the late, great Humphrey Littleton who played the trumpet on Amnesiac's most brilliant track, Life in a Glasshouse. I hope I haven't given myself enough rope to hang myself with here, but I've generously uploaded the song for those readers who haven't come across it before. Click this link. The media following surrounding his death shows the influence he bestowed upon those people he came across. Bryan points out that the last words he spoke during the final episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue were: "I wish I could tell you how much I've enjoyed it [pause] But I'm not allowed to before 9pm." His passing brought me to thoughts of other tragedies in music, which brings one to the obvious examples of Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, etc. But let us share a moment for the lesser known losses to contemporary music. Jeff Buckley's untimely death left us with only one complete album, illuminated by his definitive rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. There was nothing mysterious about his death, no clouding of facts due to drug overdoses or alcohol consumption, he simply drowned whilst swimming in a tributary to the Mississippi River. He was thirty years old. Although this event is well known, we forget the latent ability still clearly possessed by Buckley at the time of his death. His debut promised great things to come, and he was currently writing alone for his next album when living in Memphis, Tennessee. Similarly, an even lesser known example is that of Richey James Edwards, the rhythm guitarist of the Manic Street Preachers up until 1st February 1995. If, like me, you respect the 'Manics' as being the best band to have ever come out of Wales, you'll know of their discography from 1992 to the present. Richey was initially enrolled into the group as a helping hand for the road on tour, but he soon became integral to the bands writing process, and later took to the stage with the band to strum at his guitar or simply mime the chords. During an interview with the now well-known Steve Lamacq, Richey carved the words '4 REAL' into his fore-arm as a demonstration of his, and the band's integrity after a comment from Lamacq suggesting they were untrue to their punk roots. Evidently, he was a highly troubled individual, who often suffered from self-harm and anorexia. Indeed, in 1994 he checked himself into a self-help clinic in London, The Priory. However, despite his many ills, his intellect and dramatic influence manifested itself in the band's early material, arguably reaching its peak during the 1994 release, The Holy Bible. This release has been accredited as the most lyrically profound album of all time by the NME and others, yet it boasts a significantly different sound to the band's later albums, such as their alternative masterpiece, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, including their only international hit, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next. Richey was due to fly to America with lead singer, James Dean Bradfield, on the day of his disappearance. At 7am on the morning of 1st February he checked out of the Bayswater Hotel in London having withdrawn two-hundred pounds from a cash point. Later that week he was seen at the Newport Passport Office and then picked up by a taxi driver in the Newport area. He was escorted round the many sights of South Whales and then dropped off at the Severn Bridge. He paid the fare in cash. On 17th February Richey's car was reported as abandoned near to the Severn Bridge's Service Station. There have been no verified sightings of Richey since, and many suspect him to have committed suicide, as the Severn Bridge, connecting Whales to mainland Britain, is considered to be a renowned suicide location. Yet just a few months earlier he was recorded in saying: "In terms of the 'S' word, that does not enter my mind. And it never has done, in terms of an attempt. Because I am stronger than that. I might be a weak person, but I can take pain." There have been supposed sightings of him in Goa, India and the islands of Lanzarote; others believe him to be residing in a monastry. He regularly wore a cross round his neck or through his ear, yet he was contemplative about the role of religion in society, as shown in his last televised interview. The remaining members of the band to this day hold a bank account in Richey's name where they store 25% of all their earnings should he wish to return. This, surely, is one of music's most tragic circumstances. Check the web for the many video tributes left in his name. He was a turbulent individual, but remarkably talented with a dormant intelligence that graced the music and lyrics he wrote. I appreciate calling this to your attention.