Manic Street Preachers pay tribute to Welsh music champion (From South Wales Argus)

Manic Street Preachers pay tribute to Welsh music champion, James McLaren

8:16pm Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Gwent news

THE Manic Street Preachers have paid tribute to a music journalist killed in a crash on the M48 in Monmouthshire.

James McLaren, 34,from Cardiff, was killed on Monday after being struck by a lorry on the eastbound carriageway between Magor and Chepstow at around 10.20am.

He was not in his car at the time of the crash.

The Manic Street Preachers paid their tribute to him on Twitter, saying: "Terrible news about James McLaren - a brilliant writer and great promoter of Welsh music - always supporting new music - very sad and shocked."

Editor of Kerrang! magazine, James McMahon, tweeted that next week's issue would be dedicated to Mr McLaren.

In a statement, his parents said: "Our son James McLaren, who has died in a tragic accident at the age of 34, was greatly loved and will be greatly missed both by his devastated family and his many friends.

"On Flickr, he described himself as a 'music and F1 geek', but he had many other enthusiasms - his friends, his dogs, journalism, ornithology, history and Warhammer gaming."

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 642 404.