Julie Weir opens up about the Impact of Ian Watkins Crimes (Lostprophets / Visible Noise Records)

[@itsnotjustaphase9189]

I like that he is allowing her to speak and tell her story and doesn't cut her off. Nice to see a presenter that isn't me me me look at me.

[@nicj77]

Yeah it's rare and I appreciate it

[@mcfearless9924]

He asks really good questions as well. Top marks.

[@milesconnell2686]

could we call this the Ian Watkins scandal rather than the 'Lostprophets' scandal please.

[@lewisb85]

Yeah like sean smith said "it was one C*nt".

[@JasonLockwood87]

100% right mate. The band was epic

[@ukmary1968]

Yes

[@easybush7291]

I see it more as some people will not immediately put the link together between his name and the band unless you saw the scandal happen in real time. Yet you say Lostprophets and it then prompts people to think "oh yeah isn't that the band who's lead singer did that..." I agree though, the band as a whole were great. Certainly sucks for the rest of the band though, they'll always be remembered for the bad times as apposed to the good.

[@ishirutaekakura308]

Yeah I'm with this comment, like the other band members didn't do anything wrong and were a huge part of the band, it wasn't all about Ian Watkins, so I think it should be called Ian Watkins scandal also

[@tomlongley4834]

Did a meet & great back in the day and cheekily asked Julie for a ticket to the betrayed album launch show & she sorted it. Didn’t have to, went out of her way for a teenage fan, lovely lady, all the best to her going forward.

[@strawberryblondemilk7249]

To quote Corey Taylor "there isn't enough pain in the world for that guy"

[@JasonLockwood87]

I listened to their album “start something” again after many years about 6 months ago. It was a fantastic album, there’s no doubt about that. It blew my head off when it came out. I just couldn’t enjoy it properly again after all this time. I couldn’t get those poor victims and the whole situation out my head. All such a massive shame.

[@Mike-cs1ft]

Start something is such a great album and the way each song goes into the next. It’s put together so well, I like all the their albums, but just can’t listen to them cuz I get the same horrible feeling thinking about what happened. Why did he have to become a complete monster and ruin everything

[@michaelmoores2654]

I can seperate the music from the pervert personally.

[@grizzl360]

Someone at work put Last Summer on the work playlist. I immediately recognised it and was amazed that while only the intro played before being skipped, I remembered every word and beat in my head. I can't bring myself to listen to it again, despite being a fan back in the day. I remember Make a Move being a favourite, but I just can't hear his voice again.

[@happyjam92]

I loved their first three albums so much and I can't enjoy them at all anymore. I feel guilty like I am supporting him by listening to it and I hate that.

[@michaelmoores2654]

@@happyjam92 trust me, you're not supporting him by listening to them. He's in prison and he will never have a normal life again.

[@Delboy219]

I got major creep vibes from Watkins for some reason when this band first started. Dude just had a dark aura, even at that early age. In time their songs got softer and more geared towards attracting young girls to their show. I figured it must just be business and they were just appealing to a particular market for £££. I was shocked by how psychotic the dude turned out to be.

[@MLSNYC88]

Fair play, this didn't feel like a gotcha interview either. You really let her outline how this impacted everyones lives. More people should see this.

[@lewisb85]

It killed the whole south Wales scene for a while. Stu is also in thursday. It annoys me when people say "the band must of knew" I remember someone close to the band telling me that they were seriously considering the process of firing him for being a junkie when he got caught.

[@TrevorParsnips]

"must of knew" Seriously?

[@lewisb85]

​@TrevorParsnips yeah seen it on many true crime KZbin channels, BTW was quoting those comments directly.

[@Lucas-KnifeHands]

I respect your opinion. You would have to admit how incredibly extraordinary it is that no one else in the band or connected to the band did not know, hear or see anything in relation to Watkin's crimes. Like, nothing at all.

[@solongsuicide9]

*"The band must have known."

[@lewisb85]

@@Lucas-KnifeHands They thought it was drugs not THAT.

[@Lawzika]

It’s truly awful what happened to the Lostprophets, it was just him (I wont name him he doesn’t deserve it) and the rest of the band & management should never have suffered. People can live two separate lives in plain sight and get away with it, there’s countless of examples of this. Great interview 🖤✨

[@robovac3557]

Who, Ian? Ian Watkins?

[@WilfredPaduasNumberOneFan]

Yeah… why would you put an emphasis on making him like Voldemort “he dosent deserve it” Ian Watkins… who cares..

[@KellyGledhill]

Awful what happened to the victim.

[@ukmary1968]

The fact that he ruined Lee, Stu, Jamie and Mike too. Idk that it affected Luke as bad.

[@raimesey]

Who? Ian Watkins?

[@HomeworkRadio]

Really interesting, great episode.

[@Meg-cf8xs]

My welsh school teacher had posters of Ian in our classroom because she really fancied him. I've always wondered how she reacted when the news came out. And it's still gives me the ick that we had posters of him in a school children classroom.

[@Delboy219]

A quarter of a million Spotify users still listen to their albums. Mad.

[@Meg-cf8xs]

@@Delboy219 I feel sorry for the other guys in the band, they lost their careers because of him. But I couldn't imagine sitting and listening to the band especially as he was the singer and listening to his voice would make me feel so uncomfortable and disgusted.

[@Delboy219]

@@Meg-cf8xs Yeah, the other guys got shafted badly. Horrible what happened to them all because of one evil person.

[@rockboy360]

I still listen to their music, the rest of the band doesn't deserve the hate and need to make a living.

[@blizzred2143]

@@Delboy219 Not the Bands fault, it was Ian's fault. Guilty by association in this specific case is so extreme especially due to the nature of his crimes. It's crazy to think that he not only ruined his career but other's and a whole legacy they built. I remember back in the day when Last Train Home came out and someone on a message board had an explicit picture of him but they cropped it out, it was supposedly of him with a fan. The people on the board said it wasn't him until they put a side by side picture of his tattoo on his arm to compare it and couldn't deny it anymore lol.

[@RC-fi8nn]

One toxic or evil person can cause so much damage to many good people.

[@TheBeardsShow]

They might deny it but the rest of them knew. 100%

[@theearthwillshake8706]

@@TheBeardsShow Says the amateur sleuth. Oh wait don't tell me, you're a criminal psychologist with 30 years of experience dealing with major crimes....nope, thought not.

[@astrologiaeaudiobooks7278]

@@TheBeardsShow They knew about the underage female fans, but not about babies.

[@TheBeardsShow]

@theearthwillshake8706 aMAtEuR sLeUTh. Good one, you really showed me.

[@theearthwillshake8706]

@@TheBeardsShow Good comeback. Prick.

[@beccarmagie]

While, I really appreciate Julie’s honesty and frankness the one group that she hasn’t acknowledged how tragic this was for was for his victims. There were teenage girls and mothers being groomed and there were babies being r worded. Surely these are the people who have been damaged the most by this rather than any financial impact to herself the label or his band mates. Obviously, they all suffered but I would first and foremost be acknowledging the pain caused to his victims

[@uprawrpodcast]

This has been addressed a few times but this was specifically about her. We wanted to know what this meant for the label at the time

[@Delboy219]

@@uprawrpodcast Few times? Whereabouts?

[@englishmadcow7461]

This was about the impact to her. At what point do you stop apologising n empathising n try to move forward? She has bills to pay n you attacking her for something she absolutely wasn't part of or privy to is unfair. I tried to protect a minor that IW was grooming n I had the police warn me to mind my own business. She was 13. I've a loved one r-ped at 7 and after much help is now 15 n blossoming. So whilst we all agree abuse is devastating for victims n families, there is hope they can move on and deal with trauma in a way that is better for them, if that makes sense.

[@Elwooddudes]

The poor guys in the band! Heart goes out to them. Getting anywhere at all with any band/art form is very hard work.

[@ashislam5165]

I was at the Barfly gig where Julie first spotted LP, they were fantastic, a few years later a friend was managing a band called Mumcuss, we tried to get Julie to sign them as well, but she became very busy with LP and Bring me the horizon, I wish her and the rest of LP all the best, they were tarnished by one evil man, glad LP last drummer left and joined NIN, before that news broke out.

[@ukmary1968]

Well in the states Rubin is known for entertaining young teens. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@AndrewJShirley]

Oh my god, Mumcuss are very close friends and was also at the Barfly gig. I remember he who shall not be named said "Anyone got our album" *SILENCE* GUESS FUCKING NOT! hahaha. There was only about 20-30 people at that gig and that was staff, bands and guests.

[@lewisb85]

He wasn't the last drummer of lostprophets, Luke Johnston (formerly of beat union was), so when beat union split up luke joined prophets and the rest of the band joined the king blues (a band with it's own share of allegations relating to domestic violence/partner abuse etc). Luke's now doing lowlives who are a killer band.

[@ashislam5165]

@@lewisb85 thanks for correcting in me, I didn't follow LP after Ilan Rubin left to join my favourite band of all time NIN.

[@ashislam5165]

@@AndrewJShirley great memories my friend, glad you were at the gig as well 👊🏼

[@czynx3196]

I just can't separate the art from the artist in this case. I think it's harder because he's the front man. I didn't realise other members have gone onto other projects, I'll give them a listen!

[@ukbasedhomeland]

Food for thought: Get the band back together, with a decent vocalist (won't be hard to superceed watkins imo) re-record a greatest hits album and donate some of profit to charity.

[@Deano296]

They were a quality band such a shame that sick man tarnished the band name, they popped in on a random Spotify playlist the other day and I had to skip

[@JoelMagicTV]

Horrible man. Many years ago, I was part of the Leeds hardcore music scene. Before Lostprophets took off, Ian Watkins would attend shows but kept completely to himself with odd, closed-off body language. Even as the band gained success, he’d still turn up alone, showing little interest in the music but constantly observing the bands’ performances, almost like he was trying to imitate them. He may as well have sat with a notebook and pen, clearly studying how musicians expressed themselves and what worked for them. It was bizarre-he’d come in, sit alone, and leave without ever interacting. Even in the few moments I was in a room with him, I knew something wasn’t right. The community was friendly and welcoming, but he chose to isolate himself. I just hope his victims manage to recover. As Corey Taylor said, ‘there isn’t enough pain in the world for that piece of sh*t.

[@makefoxhoundgreatagain842]

People always say "I knew something was off" after the fact I call BS lol

[@Delboy219]

@@makefoxhoundgreatagain842 Bro, he was a creepy bastard from day one. Maybe you had to be around the same age as Ian to spot it. I sure did. You know that feeling if you have a female family member and their boyfriend has a very dark vibe and you can feel it? That's what Ian Watkins did to me whenever I saw his mug in Kerrang.

[@makefoxhoundgreatagain842]

@@Delboy219 yeah I get what you mean and I have met those types, fortunately overwhelming majority of people with a dark vibe would never do what that piece of 💩 did wouldn't even think of it , how a man can do what he did it's just beyond words really

[@Basham86]

They were a great band and they were incredible live. Feel so sorry for the other members

[@lungfulldrummer8921]

My mates opiate put an album out on visible noise. I think the majority of the bands got buried under the LP train when they broke out.

[@Electric_Campfire]

They were one of my fave local bands. I still have the Distinctive smile album

[@AndrewJShirley]

I was at that gig too, and knew Sean doing Organ too.

[@JonnyMaxxx]

Love the rep for Lee Gaze

[@DP-ej1we]

Ahhh mate top marks for handling with grace and dignity here - what a shit situation to talk about, or ask about but you gave her the appropriate space without prying beyond a appropriate level. Shout out to Julie by the way - having met her a number of times, the industry really lost a real one when she stepped away from VN, one of the best people to have ever graced the scene.

[@techbaffle]

It was such a shock because they were one of my favourite bands growing up. Like what now?

[@ironryan36]

Cilla Black at 4.06. 😆👍🏻

[@somerandomhomeboy]

Well spotted. RIP Cilla❤

[@alexmajor5070]

They were my 1st gig aged 16 in 2004 brixton academy supported bullet for my valentine, shame what happened as the band were amazing and mad they are still on Spotify

[@Feenicks30]

They aren't on Spotify though?

[@alexmajor5070]

@Feenicks30 yeah they most certainly are

[@Feenicks30]

@@alexmajor5070 oh wow that’s news to me. I’m certain they weren’t at one point but there they are!

[@MelonGearSolid]

​@@Feenicks30 They are quite hidden on Spotify. I'm sure you have to search for individual songs as the band isn't a promoted search result.

[@Delboy219]

@@Feenicks30 Quarter of a million weirdos listen to them on spotify every month.

[@TheUnheardNerd]

People knew about Watkins and what he was up to. I remember it being a topic on the long dead Kerrang! Message boards years before he was arrested and the magazine deleted the thread to avoid potential legal action.

[@gronxman1]

I remember seeing Lostprophets with Kill 2 This at the tiny Tunbridge Wells Forum back in the day (2001?). My gf at the time fancied Ian and made me ask him to sign her gig ticket after their high energy set. I approached Ian but was too embarrassed to explain the situation and so I asked if he would sign the ticket for my sister. He seemed a really cool and down to earth guy at the time. What went wrong? Was he always a sick and evil predator? Or did that side of his personality manifest from excess use of hard drugs?

[@YTSEJAMYLOHNU]

I was there! Must've been 2000? Had to leave during Kill II This to catch the last train home unfortunately

[@gronxman1]

@@YTSEJAMYLOHNU yes it must have been the same gig. The last train home 😆

[@P_O58]

DAYS OF WORTH . Class band

[@BZM828]

The Lostprophets buzz started very early on. I remember they played one of the small stages at Reading Festival in 2001 and it was sooo packed that the barriers collapsed. People loved TFSOP.

[@Delboy219]

No clue why. It was watered down nu metal with horrendous vocals.

[@Darksider54189]

​@@Delboy219 Because most peoole actually have an ear for melody and meaning and not just mindless innovation/experimentation that sounds terrible. Ian was a c*nt and a half, but those first 2 albums were great.

[@christiansaunders6675]

Wales isn't that small. With a population of 3.3 million, it would be a pretty big 'town.'

[@3211SD]

Maybe she meant city , half the population of a city like London. And we are pretty spread out , only a couple of hundred thousand in our big population areas ,everywhere elese is small

[@ishirutaekakura308]

I remember listening to Lostprophets growing up and they were one of my favourite bands around, I also discovered The Blackout a Welsh post hardcore band, as Ian Watkins was featured in their song "It's High Tide Baby!" Even to this day it, it's horrifying that someone I looked up to was a evil monster. I admit I find it hard to really listen to any Lostprophets song now though I wouldn't judge anyone who did I guess some of us really can't seperate the art from artist

[@adammassacre4715]

Always felt so bad for the other members their income completely gone all their hard work pretty much destroyed and erased because of that absolute monster.

[@Chrisdaman01]

Every now and then my music library will chuck a Lost Prophets song on, they had some bangers for sure. I still listen to them, i disregard that he was a member and listen out of respect to all that made it happen. He deserves all the pain imaginable

[@Rob_Cary]

Start Something was such a huge part of my life when that came out. Album was a masterpiece. Realizing now why Ian pushed the band into making such banal pop music after that album is just so cringe realizing it now and the video with all the kids... I still feel terrible for the other 4 members who dedicated their lives to this band. I saw them live for the first time mere months before that news dropped and you could clearly see a disconnect between Ian and the other people in the band and he sounded terrible also.

[@MerciGraves]

Still love the bands songs regardless of "HIM" feel sorry for the bad publicity and taint that has happened to them. He can rot in jail for all I care but I still think people shouldn't blame them for "HIS" actions. I seen them in Glasgow and we're amazing live.

[@Delboy219]

Can't believe Glasgow cheered for a child rapist.

[@cnccccccd]

Loved lostprophets what a shame he was a part of it feel so sorry for everyone affected by his wicked crimes including everyone involved with the band. Hope he rots in jail forever

[@scotty6388]

One man’s evilness effected so many people, feel so bad for Julie

[@Dannyboy5506]

Of all those that suffered, and will continue to suffer, you feel sorry for Julie?

[@lewisb85]

@@Dannyboy5506 Oh here we go suffering top trumps again. People having their lives ruined, being treated with constant suspicion, death threats etc for something they didn't do. Yes watkins is a monster, yes it's tragic what happened to the victims but other people who's lives he ruined also have a right to tell their story.

[@3211SD]

​@@Dannyboy5506probably because that's the person in the interview

[@Dannyboy5506]

@@3211SD like she’s suffered any loss 😂 she witnessed all that foul play, going off from the start. Fake Sound Of Progress tour, 14 year old girls (and younger) following the band around in every town. Years later she lost her label, after the “fallout”., then progressed to SONY records. I’d hardly call Julie a ‘victim’.

[@3211SD]

@@Dannyboy5506 I very much doubt that people in the band or crew or label actually knew what he was doing . And I have no idea if any of those people around are good or even decent people. And besides the actual victims who without question should be thought of first. The fall out has affected many many people . Its interesting to examine and hear about by those people who are secondary involved , the damaged extended way beyond the band . The fans , label an entire music community was affected. This was the first British band of this type that stood shoulder with American bands . A big teen fan base . It is interesting that many band and band members have and continue to commit crimes of vering degrees and can be horrible people, but this is the first full erased band and their contribution to pop culture . So personally I am interested to hear from people around , from band members and label people to fans who have all had their lives changed in someway

[@Hong_Kong_Ghosts]

Isn't the Barfly now The Academy, I assume it's still a venue in Camden. Don't think it's flats. Unless she's referring to a different Camden venue.

[@invade81]

Camden Assembly. She's talking about the Camden Falcon which had gigs branded Barfly, before the Monarch became the Barfly venue

[@Hong_Kong_Ghosts]

@@invade81 cool, cheers for the info. I miss the Barfly.

[@invade81]

@@Hong_Kong_Ghosts No prob. I went to the Assembly recently, I didn't even realise it replaced the Barfly until I walked up to it. I assumed it was nearby.

[@Hong_Kong_Ghosts]

@@invade81 I know, it's crazy. I felt the same way walking past the Astoria 10 years ago

[@invade81]

@@Hong_Kong_Ghosts Oh, the Astoria.These days it's all built up in that spot, almost unrecognisable.

[@tomk3682]

Wouldn't think Kill II this would get a mention in this day and age

[@deanhalsey5625]

Figure of 8 was a banging tune, couple of really good albums, very underrated band IMO.

[@head_creeps]

Damn, blast from the past or what!

[@TreacherousTraitor]

Front man getting true justice in prison .He be flatlining very soon ive heard... fingers crossed

[@owainwbm]

He's a popular guy in prison... Yes he's been stabbed but that was due to jealousy. No justice I. This world I swear...

[@NickWeirGUITARIST]

@@owainwbm it was due to drug debts. That “guitar lesson” thing always sounded like bullshit

[@Davidjagoartist]

Is this the person who Karl Pilkington interviewed about trapped souls on the Ricky Gervais XFM show?

[@redenigma9949]

Lee Gaze is a bang average guitarist

[@kierandesmond9799]

Its such a shame that his disgusting actions ruined things for so many people.

[@simonwilliams3227]

I honestly think Lost Prophets could come back. It’s such a shame that the actions of one person should impact so many other people.

[@M85619]

That reunions not being asked for

[@TheBake1986]

They can’t come back, it will always be “is that the band with that guy”

[@btrdan]

The remaining members literally want nothing to do with the name, one member smashed all the platinum records and got rid of all his stuff

[@lewisb85]

@@btrdan yeah lee gaze (who smashed up his platinum records) also referred to it as "tainted music" in an interview with the south wales echo.

[@davidmc5762]

​@@lewisb85Watkins would earn money on them too, I doubt they'd be comfortable playing them live knowing that

[@robmcclane949]

Genuine question as I (honestly) tend to miss some social cues; Is there a reason why there’s not been a single mention (from anyone) of the irreversible damage done to the rape victims and their families? I mean not even as a side note? Genuine, respectful question which will probably get an obvious answer but I’m not seeing it. All I’m seeing is astonishment to be honest. Xx

[@uprawrpodcast]

This was specifically about how it effected Julie and the record label, a story that’s not often told. Goes without saying it’s not take away from the victims and what happened to them is terrible

[@MsTee349]

@@uprawrpodcastno offence but; no one cares how it affected Julie and the band. CHILDREN were preyed on using the fame that JULIE afforded him. She may not have been directly responsible for his actions, but to discuss how this has affected her while negating how the children he abused was affected, is selfish beyond words

[@michaelgroves6469]

​@MsTee349 Wtf are you chatting? People's careers (and lives to an extent) were destroyed. As portrayed in this interview. It's not a competition, it's a music label podcast, focusing on this aspect.

[@tonymcfadyen8302]

​@@MsTee349oh calm down. No one is minimising the abuse and the effect it would have had on these poor kids. All they were saying was that the ripples from this scumbag's actions go farther than the direct victims. People's careers were ruined through no fault of their own, people that may have to provide for their family. It's not a competition.

[@lewisb85]

@@MsTee349 That's like blaming the ceo of mcdonalds if one of their employees( for example the guy who plays ronald mcdonald) was to do something similar, His crimes are irrelevant in this conversation because she had nothing to do with it. No it's not selfish at all its the guilt by association lynch mobs which causes a lot of the messes in the world to be fair. Death threats etc for something you didn't do is hardly fair, and if you think it is f**K you.

[@MrRobHoey]

Wow, Visible Noise... had to make a statement about Oli Sykes (allegedly) pissing on a fan too. Rough run.

[@gamandstuff1048]

No alleged about it, he also bottled a girl in Norwich in 2011, but that got buried, whereas the girls face will always be scarred. Oli sykes was a massive prick, rude to support acts, horrific behaviour to girls, often 14/15 year old girls. He somehow got away with cos it was kept quiet and the emo/hardcore scene just ignored it.

[@makefoxhoundgreatagain842]

​@@gamandstuff1048 Oli can be a d**k head but it's incomparable to Ian Watkins

[@FunnelDoge]

And kilkus

[@BZM828]

Loved Kilkus 😍

[@NickFieldMedia]

From my hometown! Their drummer went on to work with Florence & The Machine, and the guitarist/singer is now in a band called Edenflaw.

[@BZM828]

​@NickFieldMedia Paul I know was in This Illusion, who were fantastic as well, but after like one ep and a single disappeared...not sure what he doing now?

[@astrologiaeaudiobooks7278]

I'd love to watch a 1h interview with him inside the prison. For some reason, the media chose to suppress this case and never brought it up again. I wonder why? Perhaps because Ian Watkins was connected to powerful and famous people who engage in the same acts.

[@ali_s93]

The media doesn't like to talk about him because his victims were extremely underage and their chances of being fucked up for life (already very high) will increase significantly the more he is discussed. Plus a media interview from prison is like cocaine for a mega narcissist like Ian, better let him rot in obscurity while hiding things up his ass for other prisoners.

[@davidmc5762]

It wasn't suppressed it was front page news on and off for months, it's extremely easy to find articles about it on every major media site or news channel. They haven't done a "one hour interview" with him from prison because who in their right mind would be entertained by watching that man explain his awful crimes for an hour? What help would that be for the victims, some of whom are still children? Wise up.

[@astrologiaeaudiobooks7278]

@@davidmc5762 Several psychopaths and criminals have already been interviewed in prison out of a simple interest in understanding their sick minds.

[@NickWeirGUITARIST]

They didn’t suppress the case. It was headlines for a year. Then legally it was decided he should never be photographed in prison or talked about because of his status in the music industry and influence over young people.

[@astrologiaeaudiobooks7278]

@@NickWeirGUITARIST Really? There was a judicial decision about not photographing or talking about him?

[@saintetienne755]

Still listen to and love LostProphets

[@04mdsimps]

And nothing but thieves are still free to roam the streets. Disgusting

[@xxVickiVikingxx]

Do not blame the band for what happened, blame the evil sadistic one!!

[@JohnB-nq4js]

Lostprophets was a fantastic band. I have to file them with Michael Jackson - someone's art and their personal life can be separate things, and it's ok to enjoy art without condoning awful behaviors by the artist. I still spin LP records every couple months. Shinobi v Dragon Ninja is still the best tune. Ah - and I saw Stu with Thursday and it was great to see him playing.

[@chefbehc1870]

How could you compare the two 😂 one was proved innocent and one wasn’t, and LP’s music is bang average and MJ’s is amazing

[@JohnB-nq4js]

@@chefbehc1870 they were both child molesters who made music that I like? Pretty easy comparison

[@gshoots4357]

ewwww, you like fiddlers crooning in your ears? I bet you think this is similar to jacko, well it isnt and your gross, awful take.

[@Thelegochronicles3798]

​@chefbehc1870 Well said, MJ never did anything like what that scumbag did. I was a Lostprophets fan for years but when it all came out about him (who deserves to remain nameless) all the CDs had to go in the bin, and it was such a shame for the rest of the band, but after what HE did, I just couldnt listen to any of their songs anymore, esp as a sicko was singing them all!

[@raimesey]

It’s such a good song 👌🏼

[@Arsenic_Singapore.Official1998]

Its hard to listen to them nowadays.

[@derwilhelmovic1617]

What's also really unfortunate is that most of Lostprophet's catalog aged very well espicially Start Something. The band would have also really flourished during the recent Nu Metal/Emo revival if only Ian wasn't an absolute degenerate scumbag

[@astrologiaeaudiobooks7278]

Nah... The Betrayed and Weapons are crap. The only good songs from these albums are Darkest Blue and Another Shot.

[@derwilhelmovic1617]

@@astrologiaeaudiobooks7278 I didn't thought these albums were bad they're really not but besides this is why I've specifically mentioned Start Something since that album remains their strongest today

[@chriskennedy2298]

The whole thing is. Your fella who did this, the singer, referred to a whole paedo group in Hollywood Probably more awful people than him. Why are we not pressing this? I was never a fan but can remember they were being touted by major labels back in the day. Is this where it started? There's more than him involved (not the band)

[@BZM828]

When did he talk about that??? I'm pretty sure he didn't

[@chriskennedy2298]

@@BZM828 in messages to that lady who tried to expose him, and to the fans he was manipulating.

[@BZM828]

​@chriskennedy2298 It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, but personally I would take both what IW and JM say with a pinch of salt.

[@Brutuscomedy]

Anti-Flag too Keep an eye out for Justin Geever in Ireland. 👁️

[@lewisb85]

@Brutuscomedy he's going to be in a self imposed prison over there.

[@RosalindBurridge-dg6cy]

Everyone go watch kunt and the gang - the wrong ian Watkins. Wrong but bloody funny.

[@itsnotjustaphase9189]

I seen him when he did a gig in Newcastle

[@RosalindBurridge-dg6cy]

@@itsnotjustaphase9189 kunt or h from steps.

[@RosalindBurridge-dg6cy]

@@itsnotjustaphase9189 kunt or h from steps.

[@BigFrogg]

Lost prophets should get a new singer and re-record all their old songs. Keep the band going but just cut ties and erase anything to do with what’s-his-face

[@AndrewJShirley]

They'll never ever do it. It's too painful and they want nothing to do with the music. If any of them softened on that stance, you still wouldn't get all the band on stage doing those songs again. It might not have been so bad if he hadn't written the vast majority, if not all the lyrics, but he did. He also did all their artwork, tshirt designs and more. He had a hand in more than people think when it came to the band and every step would remind them of him and they don't want to do it any more.

[@fordcortina5751]

@@AndrewJShirley I might be wrong but didn’t Jamie do most of the art on Start Something? And didn’t Lee write a couple of songs from that same era himself?

[@ali_s93]

@@AndrewJShirley Yeah, Ian was one of the main creative forces behind LP. Almost all lyrics, artwork and a significant chunk of songwriting was done by him. The band doesn't want anything to do with anything that still credits or honours his contributions.

[@Dannyboy5506]

Lee Gaze was/is a proficient guitarist but, he’s no guitar hero.

[@TreacherousTraitor]

I agree just average .

[@ukmary1968]

Maybe she means from Wales? Not like EVH

[@matthewlee8725]

I didn't realise until now that Lostprophets were welsh. I hope no animals were harmed also.

[@Lucy-ek6ne]

He was done for beastiality aswell😖

[@Democracy_Manifest]

Emo bands always had a dodgy undercurrent to them.

[@AndrewJShirley]

What about the Rock bands of the 70's and 80's? Plenty of them were dodgy as fuck. Elvis, Led Zepplin and many many more. Don't tar thousands of people like that.

[@lewisb85]

@@AndrewJShirley Seems to be a lot of allegations against emo bands, warped tour had to bring a "second chance" policy in due to the behaviour of certain bands on the tour and bad stuff they got up to.

[@invade81]

Not everyone of course. Undeniably though there always was a high percentage of creeps in and around that scene, somehow it attracted it. The time period - the Myspace, wild-west internet days - helped.

[@hardingryan42]

Lee gaze is no where near as good as good a guitarist as she thinks he is

[@angkari7244]

the presenters boring, wake up mate

[@TimComley]

Not as bad as you

[@angkari7244]

@@TimComley you've not seen me present

[@hardcoregymnasium1779]

The band must of knew

[@Basham86]

Bull shit. You honestly think that 6 other ppl knew and hid and excused that behaviour. I don't think so

[@TrevHowsonDemon82]

See LP at ozzfest in 02, wasnt really my cup of tea but i remember them going down pretty well.

[@TheBeardsShow]

I dont care what anyone says, the rest of them knew.

[@BZM828]

Of course they didn't, all of the others in the band are parents, and they literally hated to be around him for the last few years of the band. He lived in Wales and the rest of the band were in the States. They knew he was a junkie mess but the crimes he got busted for...never in a million years.

[@TheBeardsShow]

@@BZM828 I will never believe they didn't know. Never.

[@lewisb85]

@@TheBeardsShow Logically it was actually in his interest to keep it from them because surely if they found out what he was doing, they would have surely removed his ability to commit heinous acts by getting the police involved and firing him from the band? They were actually in the process of firing him for being a junkie mess when he got arrested the local rumour was aled from kids in glass houses would have taken over.

[@danmoss388]

​@TheBeardsShow there's got to be a reason they had an album scrapped by john feldmann, he was supposedly producing they're album (ian even appeared on a goldfinger album) they suddenly it's scapped , then weeks later the news hit.

[@BZM828]

​@danmoss388 The album with JF they scrapped because it was too polished and not what they were after. Listen to "Not What You Think I Am" and you can see what they talking about. Also that was the album that eventually became "The Betrayed"...2010. IW got arrested Dec 2012.

[@akerfeldt4068]

Were Number One Son on your label?

[@lewisb85]

they were as well as labrat.

[@Bobby_sprinkles]

I remember them!

[@lungfulldrummer8921]

​@@lewisb85 labrat were a great band.

[@lewisb85]

@@lungfulldrummer8921 yeah they were, they had herman li in the live line up at one point, if I remember right. I remember seeing them on tour with the berzerker. I did see mugged off recently which is luca from labrat's nyhc style band with ben from the rotted/extreme noise terror and david from akercocke. they were supporting discharge at a one dayer in newport wales, they were great fun.

[@seankolemaine9027]

I'm the type of kat that would have no trouble calling something out for being cheesy, and to a point this is cheesy. But how could such a horrifying person end up as the lead singer? Like, the dude was known to be a happy and good hearted kid growing up. Just don't make no damn sense. The only real trauma I could possibly think of is that his father died when he was young. This really was a good radio friendly type of metal band. Just..... really is a shame what happened with this sick prick, because the sky was the limit for a band that wrote such genuinely good songs. I'll always like this band, but doing so means I have to separate the artist from the art. Even though the rest of the band did nothing sick and deviant.

[@Dannyboy5506]

What’s to say Watkins did have a “normal” upbringing but, tasted forbidden fruit (underage fans) so much that his sexual kicks just got more and more depraved, to the point of it going as far as it did for him?

[@gamesbloke]

Sorry because I know it's not the main talking point but I'm a big Kill II This fan. Great sound. Totally on point and resonated with me as a teenager. Can't believe they existed at the time. Kept me going in the worst times. LastPoppets (Sorry can't bring myself to say the name) totally absorbed my world for many years. Two of their songs are anthems. Yeah I'm saying 'are' and not using part tense. I don't mean to disrespect anyone who suffered. They gave me so much growing up it's so hard to let it go. I hope that the remaining band members can take something positive out of it all. Just an ember of something positive. Devastated that their music can't shine. I'm a father of two young boys with vulnerabilities and I can't let my sons into what I loved because of what that disgusting individual did. I wish that we can get the songs back somehow.... Stupid and pathetic to say but I just have so much that I miss. To Julie: Thanks for your label and your efforts. I can't express how much your work has positively me and I'm sure so many others. To the hardcore fans: Remember what gave you the joy and the validation.

[@thomasweston10]

Lovely to have no mention of the actual victims in the situation... 🫠