Richey Edwards' Sister Believes Guitarist May Still Be Alive

The sister of missing Manic Street Preachers lyricist and guitarist Richey Edwards has revealed she still believes he may be alive.

Though they may be unknown to some American audiences, the band gained cult status in the UK during the '90s for their outspoken politics and Edwards' unpredictable behavior (he famously carved '4 REAL' into his own arm with a razor blade during an interview with NME). Shortly after a controversial appearance on 'Top of the Pops,' Edwards went missing -- after six months his family gave the band their blessing to continue on without him. Although Edwards was officially presumed dead in 2008, his sister sister Rachel Elias still clings onto hope, reports British newspaper The Sun.

She said, "All I know is he wouldn't have meant to leave this dark cloud hanging over anyone. Some days I feel a residue of hope that he may still be alive."

She also revealed that she checks with coroners to see if unidentified bodies might that of her brother.

She added, "Each time I'd stand with my heart in my mouth, but it never ended up him. I never dreamt that when Richey disappeared in 1995 I'd still be waiting here today."

The guitarist went missing in 1995 before the band were about to embark on an American tour. His car was found two weeks later near the old Severn Bridge near Bristol, a spot well-known for suicides. He has not been seen since, though there have been regular reports of people allegedly seeing him around the world.

The band have since gone from strength to strength since his disappearance and have recently announced details of their forthcoming album 'Postcards From a Young Man' -- their 10th -- and an extensive UK tour later in the year, as previously reported by Spinner.

Manic Street Preachers, 'You Love Us (Live Reading 1992)'