In a raw and emotional revelation, former Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze has broken his decade-long silence about the band's catastrophic collapse following Ian Watkins' monstrous crimes.
The musician, who co-founded the once-celebrated Welsh rock band, speaks candidly about the trauma of discovering his frontman's depraved double life and the overwhelming guilt that still haunts him today.
The Day Everything Shattered
"It was like the world stopped turning," Gaze recalls of the moment in 2013 when police revealed Watkins' extensive grooming offences and plans involving infants. "Everything we'd built over sixteen years just evaporated in an instant."
The guitarist describes the sickening realisation that the man he'd toured the world with, shared hotel rooms with, and considered a friend was leading a secret life of unimaginable darkness.
Living With The Aftermath
Gaze admits to struggling with profound guilt, questioning whether he missed warning signs during their years together. "You torture yourself thinking 'what if I'd noticed something?' 'What if I'd said something?'" he confesses.
The musician reveals he sought therapy to cope with the trauma and completely abandoned music for years, unable to separate it from the horrific associations.
A Painful Legacy
Despite forming a new band, No Devotion, with former Lostprophets members, Gaze acknowledges the shadow will always remain. "We lost everything - our livelihood, our life's work, our fanbase," he states. "But that's nothing compared to what the victims endured."
He expresses hope that by speaking out, he can help others understand the devastating ripple effects of such crimes beyond the immediate victims.
The interview stands as a powerful testament to the collateral damage wrought by one man's evil actions, and the long, painful journey toward some form of recovery.
