Manics Richie Edwards officially dead

• 24th Nov 2008

Manic Street Preachers member Richie Edwards has been officailly declared presumed dead.

Edwards family have said the matter was “hugely emotional” but they nor the band are commenting further at this stage.

At the time of dissapearance, Edwards car was found by the river Severn but his body was never recovered. A missing person can be declared legally dead after seven years under UK law and the family have now taken the decision to change the guitarists legal status. It is 14 years since his dissapearance. The family lawyer has said the decision is “an acceptance that his affairs have got to be sorted” and it was “not the same as an acceptance that he is dead”.

Manic Street Preachers have continued to pay Edwards' share of band royalties despite his disappearance.