Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze has opened up following years of “silence” after frontman Ian Watkins was convicted for a string of vile child sex offences that left the world shocked
Lee Gaze, the former guitarist of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has broken his years of “silence” on the harrowing ordeal following frontman Ian Watkins’ conviction for heinous child sex crimes. Speaking candidly, the 50-year-old musician expressed on X how “painful” it is to reflect on the past and the thought that “things could have been so different.”
Ian Watkins, once the celebrated lead singer of Lostprophets, saw his career crumble as he was exposed as a monstrous paedophile fuelled by drugs. The band, hailing from Pontypridd in Wales, formed in 1997 by Watkins and Gaze, and rose to fame after their previous band Fleshbind disbanded.
With millions of records sold across the globe and four UK top 10 albums, Lostprophets were once a huge part of the rock music scene. However, Watkins horrified fans when he pleaded guilty to attempting to rape an infant and committing 10 other sex offences, targeting fans, some of whom shockingly offered their own children for him to abuse.
Despite his initial denials following his arrest in 2012, Watkins eventually confessed to his vile acts at his trial a year later. In court, he was labelled a “determined and committed paedophile.”
In a rare public reflection, Gaze recently opened up about the band’s legacy on X, revealing the deep impact the scandal had on him and the devastation of how the band’s journey ended.
Gaze reflected on the past and shared his heartache online, writing: “It’s been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it’s still painful to think about. Things could’ve been so different.
“I don’t talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should’ve lasted a lifetime. I never really wronged anyone my whole life so it seemed like the ultimate punishment.”
As Gaze opened up about his former band’s abrupt end, fans flocked to express their sympathy and support. A fan responded with encouragement: “I wish you a big success with your new project. Thanks for the music and memories.”
Another sympathised, saying: “I’m really sorry you’re still carrying that pain. Everything should have been different. But fate is a cruel joke. You didn’t deserve it. I think a lot about what the band would be like now.”
To this Gaze replied with: “Yeh. Hard to make sense of it all, even after all these years.”
Continuing the outpouring of empathy, one commenter added: “I always say to any band I record if LP comes up in convo, what that guy did was unspeakably evil, but I’ve got so much sympathy for everyone else in that (your) band – he ruined many other people’s lives and careers instantly, and it’s never spoken about.”
A long-time fan also chimed in with: “Eternally gutted for you guys. LP were one of my formative bands in my teens and saw you guys over 20 times.”
In a revealing comment, they suggested: “If you all decided to re-record all your material with a new singer I’d support that! Reclaim something that one person should have no right to send to oblivion.”
One more wrote: “Echoing what others have said about the impact you guys had on me during uni years. Remember seeing you at Brixton circa 2006 ish, epic. Hope you’ve been able to find peace with it all – must’ve been an incredibly heavy burden to carry for so long.”
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply