A serious discussion about Lostprophets' reputation.

[Mesousa287793]

I know there's already a thread about Lostprophets' current issues with the lead singer, but for this thread, it's more about the band's former legacy. These guys were popular in the UK, and was a notably respect band no doubt, especially that they're from Wales.

With recent reports about Ian's major sick issues, there are even people thinking that the band was even on it, as when the band (Without Ian) announced their separation through Facebook, there were many, many negative comments, going as far as saying that they knew, but never told the authorities about Ian's actions, although there hasn't been any proof to this.

So, yeah, the band is tarnished, so does that mean that we're now no longer allowed to even hear their songs? Hell, what would fans think about this? I'm surprised there hasn't been some sort of opinions from fans as they've been rather quiet about this whole ordeal other than the Facebook comments.

I've even heard people through Twitter going that if you listen to their songs, you support child rape. Yeah, it's that harsh.

Ian no doubt deserves punishment, but what the rest of the band? Is it the Jerry Sandusky trial all over again, that certain people in staff were just really slow, so they should deserve punishment, too? Or the fact that, at least, they should support the victims?

Regardless, this honestly should be the music related topic to talk about at the moment.

[Toxik916]

As someone who never listened to the band I feel this is gonna be very similar to the Chris Benoit situation. Radio stations won't play their music anymore and it will be really difficult for the fans of this band. Ultimately you have to make the decision yourself on whether you can separate the art from the person that made it.

Edit:
After reading what this sick f*** actually did I don't see how anyone could listen to the music he made without feeling dirty.

[Hit Girl]

The other band members may be OK, but "Lostprophets" previous work is toast. It will never be played anywhere mainstream again.

It's different to Sandusky, where he was operating within a larger organisation that didn't do nearly enough to deal with his crimes.

[Unaffiliated]

I'd say it's pretty much the same thing with Benoit, and whether one can separate the work from the performer.

For me, personally, I don't have a problem with that. Probably has to do with how I view public figures in the first place. Regarding Benoit, he was a good wrestler. That's it. Similarly with Lostprophets, they were a pretty alright band in my opinion, and that's it. Regardless of how much I enjoy any performer's work, they are never my "heroes" or "role models". So it doesn't matter to me what they do outside when it comes to judging their work. I can listen to a Lostprophets song and say "that's a good song" without praising the band (or Watkins in particular) for being such musical geniuses.

I do understand how those who get more emotionally attached to performers they like can have their enjoyment of the work affected by something the performer did, though.

[Apricots And A Pear Tree]

I've never heard of them until today.

[Deleted]

It's hard to ignore the possibility that the band always knew their lead singer was a kid touching creep but just stayed out of it and kept making their money. I wanna give them the benefit of the doubt. Seems a hard secret to keep. We're living in a time where guys can kidnap their own daughters at home without their spouse ever figuring it out so anything's possible but there is a bit of a skeevy, "what did you guys know?" that I couldn't help but wonder.

But as long as you aren't one of those sycophants who attempt to try and rationalize what he did to justify your continued listening I see no problem with it. If you like the music you like the music, I still will watch a Chris Benoit match from time to time, but I'll never forget what he did.

[crowwreak was WRONG]

I can listen to them, but I'm not going to make any effort to. If my friends put them on at a party or in their car, or if someone on a stream listens to them, I'm fine with that, but I actually got rid of my CDs and deleted all my MP3s of them.

The other 5 and their new project, I'm definitely gonna listen to.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Think about how long it took for some of the Michael Jackson tarnish to start to wear off. And Michael was a much, much, much, much bigger part of music than Lostprophets. Michael came back somewhat from that, but there's still that cloud hanging over his music.

I think the current issues is what their legacy is going to be. They don't have the body of work, or HUGE worldwide influence that Michael had, that can allow them to get that tarnish off.

[A Platypus Rave]

Ask Gary Glitter.

Serious answer more than likely they will just stop playing their stuff full stop on the radio if they haven't already.

The rest of the members will probably be alright as long as it doesn't come out that they participated in the events.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Nov 26, 2013 23:57:37 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

Think about how long it took for some of the Michael Jackson tarnish to start to wear off. And Michael was a much, much, much, much bigger part of music than Lostprophets. Michael came back somewhat from that, but there's still that cloud hanging over his music.

I think the current issues is what their legacy is going to be. They don't have the body of work, or HUGE worldwide influence that Michael had, that can allow them to get that tarnish off.

Michael's rep is also aided by how weak the 1993 and 2005 charges turned out to be (and that's not just my MJ fandom talking, the fact that both the Chandlers and Arvizos went initally for settlements as opposed to immediant trials didn't lend credibility to their cases). Watkins's guilt isn't in doubt here, so he and the band by extension (barring any successful side projects in the future) are shot.

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2013 22:29:17 GMT -5 Toxik916 said:

As someone who never listened to the band I feel this is gonna be very similar to the Chris Benoit situation. Radio stations won't play their music anymore and it will be really difficult for the fans of this band. Ultimately you have to make the decision yourself on whether you can separate the art from the person that made it.

Edit:
After reading what this sick f*** actually did I don't see how anyone could listen to the music he made without feeling dirty.

Bingo on the radio stations. This morning on the request line the host was like yeah nope Lostprophets will Never be played on this station again.

[Hit Girl]

It really brings to mind what would have happened if Michael Jackson had been found guilty. That's a hell of a body of work to be effectively blacklisted. On the other hand, Roman Polanski raped a girl, and I don't see his movies being treated as taboo. Hell he's still making them, with A-list involvement.

[G✇JI☈A]

Yeah, I have nearly 10K songs in my iTunes.... And only one of those tracks is by the lostprophets. It's from a 2004 Big Day Out compilation album . The song is called BURN BURN. Just a middle of the road indie rock song.


One song too many!

Yeah going to be removing that from my iTunes and cloud. Can't separate the man from the music here. Sick f***.

[Hit Girl]

I hope CHVRCHES don't rob a bank or anything. I like their music.

[Munkie91087]

It's going to be really difficult listening to their songs and hearing the singer's voice. Especially if he was the primary lyricist. If they're HIS words, I have no idea how you can listen and get enjoyment from them. Given the absolutely heinous nature of the crimes. He is guilty of the absolute sickest thing one can do. The acts in question cannot be defended in anyway. I just don't see a way to separate the artist from the art. I've never been a huge lostprophets fan, but I've liked several of their major hits and there's no way I can listen to them without linking the meaning of the song to the acts of the singer. This is just my opinion though, other people can do whatever they want. If you think you can listen to the songs and not associate them with what the singer did, good for you. I just don't know how anyone could do that.

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

Honestly if the other band members had no idea what a high grade sick f*** Ian Watkins then they should be able to move on with their careers.

As for their music no radio sation is going to touch it with a ten foot pole but if people still want to listen to it all I can say is meh whatever.

[Eunös ✈]

Was never really a Lostprophets fan to begin with, Liked the odd tune but not really enough to be considered an outright fan.

However, if there are people out there that can still the music but not try to justify Ian Waltkins actions than I certainly wont look down on them for it.

It's only if they try to defend what his done that It becomes a problem.

It's like I can still watch a Chris Benoit match, but I still think his scum for what he did.

----------------------

Another quick thought, If WWE re releases the 2008 Royal Rumble DVD, wonder if they will edit the music in Jeff Hardy's pre match video.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Nov 27, 2013 6:14:01 GMT -5 Eunös ✈ said:

Was never really a Lostprophets fan to begin with, Liked the odd tune but not really enough to be considered an outright fan.

However, if there are people out there that can still the music but not try to justify Ian Waltkins actions than I certainly wont look down on them for it.

It's only if they try to defend what his done that It becomes a problem.

It's like I can still watch a Chris Benoit match, but I still think his scum for what he did.

----------------------

Another quick thought, If WWE re releases the 2008 Royal Rumble DVD, wonder if they will edit the music in Jeff Hardy's pre match video.

I really don't see anybody trying to defend THAT outside of unimaginative trolls. But yeah, if one still wants to enjoy Lostprophets music they shouldn't be condemned for it.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Nov 27, 2013 1:23:47 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

On the other hand, Roman Polanski raped a girl, and I don't see his movies being treated as taboo. Hell he's still making them, with A-list involvement.

Which is total bullshit. I refuse to watch any of his movies, new or old. I think it's a disgrace to Hollywood that anyone still works with the scumbag.

Lostprophets are one of my bands. When they were getting big in the early 2000s, I was a teenager. These were my formative years. Nu-metal was a big thing, my group of friends were all into Linkin Park and the like, and with Lostprophets we finally had a British equivalent to listen to, that we could call our own.

The Fake Sound Of Progress was an album that had enormous personal significance to me. Lostprophets were barely out of their teens when they recorded it, so there's an element of immaturity, of finding yourself, of learning to the music and the lyrics that we all identified with and so that record was special to me.

We are not talking about 'oh yeah, the drummer was a paedo but that doesn't matter.' This is the guy who wrote these lyrics, who sung those melodies, he is the focal point of this band, the voice of this band, and at one point he was the voice of my youth. I'm not trying to downplay the importance of the instrumentation, because I'm a musician and it's hugely important. But you are literally singing along with the words of a paedophile.

Some of the lyrics he wrote ('don't frown, don't scorn, because I walk a different street to you') could even take on a sinister new meaning if you were going to go that far with it.

I am never touching their music ever again, I hope no-one else ever does, and I'm getting rid of what I already own. Just like when the Benoit thing emerged, there is a part of my childhood/adolescence that has gone forever and I will never get it back.

The other five guys will be lucky to ever work again, and if they do, it won't be for many years, and I doubt they could have any of the five of them collaborating in the same group.

Also, comparing it to the Michael Jackson case is ridiculous because Jackson was found not guilty, twice. Not only was Watkins found guilty, he PLED guilty. You could make an argument for 'oh well the evidence was tampered with' or some other conspiracy bullshit, but Watkins pled guilty and so did his accomplices.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Nov 27, 2013 8:36:29 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

Also, comparing it to the Michael Jackson case is ridiculous because Jackson was found not guilty, twice. Not only was Watkins found guilty, he PLED guilty. You could make an argument for 'oh well the evidence was tampered with' or some other conspiracy bullshit, but Watkins pled guilty and so did his accomplices.

I'm comparing it because while Jackson was acquitted, it still hangs over his music and legacy. If it still hangs over Michael, Lostprophets have no chanced to get away from it.