Music

HMV is no longer selling Lostprophets albums

by Mark Teo

Photo: Flickr user Ian Muttoo

Well, that didn’t take long. Days after Ian Watkins, the former singer of Welsh band Lostprophets, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of a baby, HMV’s U.K. division has announced that they’ll no longer be selling Lostprophets albums. According to NME, the retailer has instructed staff to remove all physical albums from their stores, and they’ll no longer be selling their music digitally, as well.

Still, it’s hardly a politicized move for HMV. The trial of Watkins seemingly is becoming more sordid by the moment: He coerced two superfans to surrender their children to him. He admitted to plans to blow crystal meth into a baby’s face. An ex-girlfriend reportedly warned police four years ago about Watkins’ pedophilia. Even small details—like the fact that his computer password was “Ifuckkids”—are shockingly depraved.

So, it’s understandable that HMV would like to disassociate itself with Lostprophets—even if it means unwittingly dragging other members of the band into controversy. The band understands this; they broke up after Watkins’ accusations.

“I only hope those children can grow up without the taint of what he did to them clouding their futures,” said the band’s former tour manager, George Davison in a statement. “I would never attempt to excuse anything he did as I firmly believe he made his choices and now he will pay for them. Do I feel sorry for the accused woman and Ian?”

“Right now, I don’t feel sorry for them at all. They were all complicit in allowing these horrific acts to happen. I don’t care how many drugs you have taken there is no excuse or reason for even contemplating, let alone carrying out what they did to those children.”

It seems like the band wouldn’t oppose HMV U.K.’s Lostprophets ban.

Meanwhile, there’s no word on whether other online retailers will stop selling Lostprophets’ music. At current, HMV.ca is still carrying their albums. We have reached out to their corporate offices, but they haven’t yet provided a statement.

UPDATE: HMV Canada has issued us the following statement via email: “At present, hmv does not have stock of the lost prophets [sic] in store.” Their website also no longer has their products listed.