Author disowns revised Preachers book

The author of a book about Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers is urging readers not to buy the volume after he accused the publishers of ‘‘butchering’’ a crucial section.

Simon Price, who wrote the best-selling Everything (A Book About Manic Street Preachers) is in dispute with publishers Virgin Books over a chapter concerning the 1995 disappearance of lyricist and guitarist Richey Edwards.

When Price’s original book was published in 1999, a police officer who was quoted criticising methods in the hunt for Edwards complained about the section and threatened legal action.

As a result Virgin chopped the section out of the reissue, enraging the author.

Price insisted that the police officer in question did not have a legal case and accused Virgin of ‘‘bottling out’’.

‘‘I didn’t misquote him (the officer), mislead him or take him out of context,’’ he insisted.

He added: ‘‘We’re talking about a crucial section in a pivotal chapter. No other Manics biographer has taken the trouble to go beyond the press cuttings and do this kind of journalistic research into Richey’s disappearance.

‘‘It’s a much weaker chapter without it. They have butchered it.’’

Price urged fans not to buy the reprint and said he has completely disowned the reissue.

A spokesman for Virgin Books said they were saddened by his feelings about the new volume.

‘‘We had worked hard with the author to explain the problems with the police interview he cited as a small but important part of the chapter about Richey’s disappearance.

‘‘As a prudent and professional publishing house, it only makes sense to act on the advice of our lawyers and to remove material from the book that could be construed as harmful to another individual ... we hope one day Simon Price will understand our actions.’’