Lostprophets To ‘Reform Without Jailed Singer’

Lostprophets are reforming without former lead singer Ian Watkins, who was jailed for at least 29 years for child sex abuse, it has been reported.

The remaining five members of the Welsh band said in October they were splitting up after the scale of Watkins’ abuse emerged.

But now it has been revealed they plan to play on, possibly under a different name.

Fellow musician Geoff Rickly told Radio Cardiff that he was working on a new project with band members Lee Gaze, Mike Lewis, Stuart Richardson, Jamie Oliver and Luke Johnson.

He said the new music they are making is closer to The Cure, New Order or Joy Division than to their previous rock.

Rickly, who until 2011 was in a band called Thursday, said he did not know Watkins but had become friends with the other members from being on the road at rock gigs.

He said: “I’ve been talking to the remaining members of that band because they are really good guys.

“I want to be a part of what they do. I want to give them a second chance because people do not really think what happens to the other members.

“That took away their life. They had to give up their career. They had to give up everything they had worked for for 15, 17 years.

“They had no idea this was going on. It hit them so hard. I would talk to them on days they wouldn’t want to get out of bed.

“They are all fathers. What happened to them is just devastating.”

Rickly, who started his own record label Collect Record a couple of years ago, said he started talking with them recently about putting out new material.

He said: “I think if ever there was a group of people that needed a second chance, it’s those guys and they’re going to take full advantage of it,” he added.

“People don’t really think of what happens to the other members. That took away their life.”

In December, Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was given a 35-year sentence – including six years on licence – for 13 sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.