10 Best Posthumous Rock Music Releases
3. Journal For Plague Lovers - Manic Street Preachers
Richey Edwards served as the lyricist and rhythm guitarist for Welsh band Manic Street Preachers from 1989 to 1995.
On the 1st February of that year, Edwards vanished. There has been a lot written about his disappearance and many theories have been posited as to where he went and why he did it.
What is certain is that he hasn't been seen in almost 30 years and was declared legally dead in 2008.
Edwards' disappearance is one of the strangest stories in British music, as well as one of the saddest. Perhaps in an attempt to give themselves some closure, the Manics released an album in 2009 that was made up entirely of his songs.
All of the lyrics on Journal for Plague Lovers were written by Edwards, with the band acting as his avatar. The album served as a memorial, a celebration, and a warning all at once, as the guitarist's last words were given form.
It may never be known what happened to Richey Edwards, but let's hope that this album offered some sort of release for those nearest and dearest to him.