What happened to Lostprophets after Ian Watkins conviction? Members' lives explored amid frontman’s death

Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was ‘murdered’ in a brutal attack in prison on October 11, 2025. According to CNN, Ian was killed by another inmate at HM Prison Wakefield. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Watkins was a convicted paedophile who was serving a 29-year prison sentence followed by an additional six years on license after his 2013 conviction for multiple child sex offences, according to a report in the BBC. He was previously attacked in prison in 2023, but survived that attack. In 2014, the judges rejected Watkins’ appeal to reduce his jail time.

Lostprophets disbanded in October 2013 following Ian Watkins’ arrest. The other band members were deeply affected by his actions and expressed their heartbreak and disgust. They stated that they were not aware of his alleged crimes. They cancelled the tour dates and subsequently formed a new band called No Devotion with singer Geoff Rickly.

More details on what happened to Lostprophets’ band members after frontman Ian Watkins’ conviction

Lostprophets’ members were appalled after their frontman, Ian Watkins, was convicted in 2013 for committing multiple child sex offenses. They expressed their shock and disgust at his crimes.

In October of the same year, the group from Pontypridd announced its disbandment. The band shared a statement on social media, where they wrote:

“We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets. After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time. We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets.”

The statement added:

“Your love and support over the past 15 years has been tremendous, and we'll be forever grateful for all you've given us. As we look forward to the next phase of our lives, we can only hope to be surrounded by people as devoted and inspiring as you guys have been.”

In 2014, the remaining members of the Lostprophets: Lee Gaze, Mike Lewis, Stuart Richardson, and Jamie Oliver, formed a new band called No Devotion. Reportedly, Ian Watkins was replaced by the United Nations and ex-Thursday singer Geoff Rickly.

The band released a statement about their new project, stating:

“Harshly uprooted from their settled lives and careers, (the bandmates') own notions of trust and betrayal tested beyond measure, there was never going to be an ending in which everything could simply go back to where it was before.”

The band members were anxious as they wondered how their fans would accept them after Watkins’ conviction. They were eager to continue with music and decided to approach Rickly to join their band. No Devotion released two albums titled Permanence and No Oblivion.

On the personal front, guitarist and backing singer Lee Gaze married London-based Malaysian former singer, Syirin Said, and welcomed two children. Bassist Stuart Richardson is married to his wife, Marissa. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Jamie Oliver, who was the keyboardist, turntablist, and supporting vocalist, quit the music industry in 2017 to focus on his fitness journey and art. He is now a successful artist and resides in Los Angeles with his wife and children.

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Rhythm guitarist Mike Lewis continued to make music. However, he was not involved with their album, No Oblivion. He married his girlfriend, Amber Payne. The couple reportedly split in March 2023. They share a daughter.

Lostprophets was co-founded in 1997 by Ian Watkins, Mike Lewis, Mike Chiplin, and Lee Gaze. The rock band released five studio albums. Weapons released in 2012 was their final album. They topped the charts in 2006 with the release of their album, Liberation Transmission.

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