Music

Here's what the Lostprophets members are doing without pedophile singer Ian Watkins

by Mark Teo

While much of the Lostprophets chatter has been focused on disgraced singer Ian Watkins, some questioned the fate of the rest of the band’s members. For good reason: Watkins, a convicted pedophile who stated that he wanted to rape his own baby, was sentenced for 35 years, and while in jail, seemed to show little remorse for his actions. His actions were so horrific that the band’s members—who certainly don’t deserve to be lumped in with Watkins—had to disband Lostprophets, an act who regularly filled stadiums.

“After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time. We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets,” the band wrote in a statement last October. “Your love and support over the past 15 years has been tremendous, and we’ll be forever grateful for all you’ve given us. ”

Eight months later, the remaining members of the band have resurfaced with a new band called No Devotion, who, as evidenced by their name, have no devotion to their old singer. Instead of packing stadiums, however, the band debuted last night in a college students’ building in Cardiff. Their new singer? Ex-Thursday (and current United Nations) member Geoff Rickly.

Rickly’s harder-edged tendencies are nowhere to be found—in a single they released recently, they’re exhibiting a soaring, 30 Seconds to Mars-esque approach to alt-rock.

Of course, the spectre of Lostprophets loomed large over their debut. Rickly, who says he liked Lostprophets in passing because “they’re funny and self-aware,” only spoke for the band, and rarely referenced the legacy left by the Watkins-led outfit.

“For anyone who loved their old band and feel torn up thank you,” he told the crowd, according to WalesOnline.

They weren’t able to shake the comparisons, though. In the sold-out 350-person venue, NME reports, there were plenty of folks with Lostprophets merch, and two hecklers repeatedly demanded to hear Watkins-penned songs. The band, naturally, declined.

Guitarist Richard Oliver explained why: According to him, it’s hard enough to play music after Lostprophets.

“It is obvious that the easier path would have been to slink into the shadows and quietly fade into obscurity,” he told NME. “Today with courage we wear our hearts on our sleeves and add a new chapter to this story, one which can allow us to hold our heads high and face the world again as musicians.”

Still, Rickly was initially apprehensive about joining the band. He’d originally linked up with them with the hopes of creating a documentary—about the fallout from the Ian Watkins saga—when they proposed creating new music. “I was talking to Karen, their manager and I kept saying, ‘No, I’m not listening to their demo. I’m not interested in that line of fire,” Rickly said, according to Loudwire. “After a while I did end up listening to their demo. I thought, ‘Holy shit, this is really good.”

So, what do you think? Can Rickly and co. erase Watkins’ sordid legacy? Can they rehabilitate their public image? Or are the ex-members of Lostprophets forever doomed?