Richard James Edwards (22 December 1967 – disappeared 1 February 1995, declared dead 24 November 2008), also known as Richey James or Richey Manic, was a Welsh musician who was the lyricist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. He was known for his dark, politicised and intellectual songwriting that, combined with an enigmatic and eloquent character, has assured him cult status; he has also been cited as a leading lyricist of his generation. Although he regularly involved himself in the band's songwriting, Edwards rarely recorded any guitar performances with the band.

Edwards disappeared on 1 February 1995. On 24 November 2008, he was legally declared dead "on or since" 1 February 1995. The ninth Manic Street Preachers album, Journal for Plague Lovers, released on 18 May 2009, is composed entirely of songs with lyrics left by Edwards. As of 2005,^[update] the remaining members of Manic Street Preachers were still paying 25% royalties into an account in his name.

Richard James Edwards was born and raised in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales, to Graham and Sherry Edwards. He had one younger sister, Rachel (born 1969), with whom he was close:

It sounds like a cliché but it was a very happy family, a very happy upbringing. I know Richard is on record as having said the same thing. He was two years older than me and my overwhelming memory of our childhood is that he was very supportive of me. When I was at school I used to have a lot of anxiety, particularly around schoolwork. When I went on to comprehensive school, he'd already been there for a couple of years. At the end of each day we'd walk our dog Snoopy, I'd talk to him about my homework and he'd help me. He'd allay my fears, which, I suppose in retrospect, is ironic given the anxiety that he suffered years later.

— Rachel Edwards, GQ Magazine, April 2020

Edwards attended Oakdale Comprehensive School, along side future bandmates Nicky Wire, Sean Moore and James Dean Bradfield. From 1986 to 1989, he attended University of Wales, Swansea to study Political History and graduated with a 2:1 degree.

Edwards was initially a driver and roadie for Manic Street Preachers. He was accepted as the band's main spokesman and fourth member in 1989. Edwards showed little interest in his guitar playing during the early years of the band; his real contribution was in their lyrics and design. When recalling Edwards' first live show, bassist Nicky Wire stated that Edwards "only did one song, he didn't know any of the others;" when asked about his guitar playing Edwards said, "Why is everyone hung up on an ugly piece of wood and metal and strings?" Accordingly, he only played on two songs during the band's studio career; however, along with Wire, Edwards was their principal lyricist. Edwards is said to have written approximately 80% of the lyrics on their third album, The Holy Bible. Both are credited on all songs written before Edwards' disappearance, with Edwards receiving sole credit on three tracks from the 1996 album Everything Must Go, and co-writing credits on another two.

Edwards expressed a desire to create a concept album described as "Pantera meets Nine Inch Nails meets Screamadelica". Bradfield, the band's lead guitarist and vocalist, later expressed doubt over whether the Manic Street Preachers would have produced such an album: "I was worried that as chief tune-smith in the band I wasn't actually going to be able to write things that he would have liked. There would have been an impasse in the band for the first time born out of taste."