LostProphets biography
Lostprophets (, often stylised as lostprophets) are a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, formed in 1997. Founded by vocalist Ian Watkins, bassist (later guitarist) Mike Lewis, drummer Mike Chiplin and guitarist Lee Gaze, they were originally a side-project to hardcore punk band Public Disturbance. To date, Lostprophets have released four studio albums, most recently releasing The Betrayed on 13 January 2010. They are also part of the Cardiff music scene.
The band have achieved two top ten hits on the UK Singles Chart ("Last Train Home" and "Rooftops"), one number one single on the Alternative Songs chart ("Last Train Home"), and several Kerrang! Awards and nominations.
History
Early years (1997-2000)
The band formed in 1997 in the Welsh town of Pontypridd, 12 miles north of Cardiff. Lostprophets formed with two members of Public Disturbance, which featured singer Ian Watkins and guitarist Mike Lewis. With Watkins on vocal duties and Lewis (who did not leave Public Disturbance until 2000 the band also included guitarist Lee Gaze and Mike Chiplin on drums.
Lostprophets started out as part of the fledgling South Wales scene - originally calling themselves "The bum mules" - playing gigs at venues across Wales including T.J.'s in Newport. From there, they went on to tours on the UK's circuit. The band recorded three demos during this time: Here Comes the Party, Para Todas las Putas Celosas, which translates as "For all the jealous whores", and The Fake Sound of Progress. These were produced by Stuart Richardson, who joined the band as bassist for the latter recording. Mike Lewis at this point switched to rhythm guitar. The Fake Sound of Progress also included the addition of DJ Stepzak, who would remain with the band for around a year. The first three tracks from their third demo were refined and re-recorded for the release of their debut album of the same name: the title track, "MOAC Supreme" and "Stopquote" - the latter two were renamed "A Thousand Apologies" and "Awkward", respectively. All of the EPs are out of print, and are very rare.
The band caught the attention of the two music publishers Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines both giving them glancing reviews. In 1999 they signed in with Independent label Visible Noise.
Thefakesoundofprogress (2000-2002)
The band's debut album
Thefakesoundofprogress was released through Visible Noise in November.
Thefakesoundofprogress featured many references to 1980s pop-culture. In addition to the Duran Duran reference in the band's name, there was an image of Vengar from the
Dungeons & Dragons TV series on the album sleeve notes, as well as song titles like "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" and "Kobrakai". The first song's title was a reference to the video games
Shinobi and
Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja, while the second was an alternative spelling of Cobra Kai, the name of the karate dojo in the
Karate Kid movies. Another reference is the use of the VF-1 Valkyrie in Battroid mode from the 1982 anime
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross as part of the album illustration.
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