94 Grande Fromage
94 Grande Fromage 10/10/12 11:13 Page 94 GrandeGrande FromageFromage IanIan WatkinsWatkins As Welsh rock heroes LOSTPROPHETS are about to co-headline the Vans Warped UK at London’s Alexandra Palace in November with Bring Me The Horizon, Big Cheese looks at the life so far of humorous, stylish and sometimes controversial frontman Ian Watkins.
BORN on the 30th of July 1977, in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Ian David Karslake Watkins moved to Pontypridd where he attended Hawthorn High School. There he met future Lostprophets bassist (and later guitarist) Mike Lewis. After completing a degree in Graphic Design, Ian and Lewis formed Aftermath, a thrash band, who only played twice in its two years together. Ian left Aftermath, then meeting Lee Gaze through a mutual friend. Through the pairs shared love of alternative music they created the American hardcore-inspired band Fleshbind. Although the band played dates with Feeder, the band was short-lived. Ian then re- united with old school friend Mike to form the hardcore band Public Disturbance. Formed in 1995, the band released two full-length releases before disbanding in 2000. Leaving Fleshbind and Public Disturbance behind, Lewis and Watkins formed Lostprophets, where for the first time Watkins was frontman.
Ian Watkins’ success with Lostprophets started when they signed to Visible Noise Records in 1999 and released their debut ‘Thefakesoundofprogress’, which features fan favourite ‘Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja’. In 2004 the band released critically acclaimed second album ‘Start Something’, which reached number four in the UK album chart and has sold 2.5 million copies since its release. The band took a break and recorded the band’s number one album ‘Liberation Transmission’ in America. Released in July 2006, the album features the band’s most popular song to date - ‘Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)’. The band began recording an album which they hoped to release in early 2007, but were unhappy with the results of their work with producer John Feldmann and scrapped an album’s worth of material. The band wrote and produced 2010’s long-awaited follow-up ‘The Betrayed’. Lostprophets’ current record, ‘Weapons’, their fifth studio album, was released on the 2nd of April 2012.
Watkins isn’t just the singer of Lostprophets, he is also a designer and has a clothing line. In June 2008 he launched what he called “a wearable art project”, which he named Made in Hell Clothing. Ian draws all the artwork himself and solely owns the business. All the products in the range, which include T-shirts, necklaces and jackets, are all individually numbered, causing each item of clothing to be unique to the wearer, more like a piece of art than a T-shirt.
Along with singer and designer, Ian can claim the title of DJ. In 2009 he formed mysterious and fun DJ group L’amour La Morgue. They have remixed songs from the Killers to Beyonce to Young Guns. These tracks can be found on the band EPs, which are free to download from the band’s Facebook page. The most famous remix to date has been their reworking of Bring Me The Horizon’s ‘It Was Written In Blood’. This was featured on BMTH’s ‘Suicide Season: Cut Up!’ The band continue to make music and have previously toured with the likes of 3OH!3.
Ian’s burning passion for music is evident through Lostprophets’ longevity and their ferocious live performances, with his creativity also displayed by his art through his clothing line. With Lostprophets headlining the UK leg of the prestigious Vans Warped Tour and a tour in November, Ian and Lostprophets show no chance of slowing down. Here’s to the Welsh rock hero! COMIN’ NEXT ISSUE!
‘Weapons’ is out now on Epic Losprophets tour the UK in November and play XYXYXYXYX Vans Warped Tour UK on 17th November L’amour La Morgue’s EP is free to download at Facebook.com/Lamourlamorgue XYXYXYXYX Claire Thomas AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
94 Big Cheese OUT XYXYXYXYXYX 00TH! For updates check out Bigcheesemagazine.com and Facebook.com/bcmag