COBAIN II: In England, the anniversary of...

COBAIN II: In England, the anniversary of Cobain’s death has contributed to an increased outpouring of despair and depression among youth, heightened by concerns over the mysterious disappearance of Richey James, the guitarist of the popular band Manic Street Preachers.

The situation has spurred a variety of organizations to hold public forums dealing with teen crises. The weekly rock paper Melody Maker is organizing a round-table featuring alternative-rock figures and youth counselors to discuss the topic.

The disappearance of James, who has not been seen since Feb. 1, has been acutely felt, with the rock papers’ letters pages lately dominated by correspondence from fans who say they identify with his well-documented history of depression, alcohol abuse, self-mutilation and anorexia.