Lee Gaze, co-founder and guitarist of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has broken his silence following the death of former frontman Ian Watkins, the pedophile rocker who was killed while serving time at the notorious “Monster Mansion” prison.
In 2013, Ian Watkins, then 36, was convicted of 13 horrifying child sex offenses, including the attempted rape of a baby, multiple child sexual assaults, and possession of extreme animal pornography.
During sentencing, Justice John Royce condemned him for having “plunged into new depths of depravity” and described him as “a deeply corrupting influence” with “a complete lack of remorse,” according to the BBC.
Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison, with an additional six years on extended license. He was sent to HMP Wakefield, a notorious high-security prison in West Yorkshire often dubbed “Monster Mansion” for housing some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals, including murderers, serial rapists, and terrorists, News.com.au reports.
Lostprophets ‘disgusted’
Formed in 1997, Lostprophets quickly became one of the UK’s most successful rock bands, selling over 3 million albums and headlining festivals around the world.
But in 2013, their legacy was instantly destroyed when Watkins’ crimes were revealed.
The band disbanded immediately and later re-emerged as No Devotion, distancing themselves from the scandal that had shattered their careers and personal lives.
After Watkins pleaded guilty and was sentenced, the remaining members of Lostprophets released a powerful public statement. Admitting they had been completely unaware of his secret life, they said they were “heartbroken, angry, and disgusted” by the revelations.
They also revealed that working with Watkins in the years leading up to his arrest had become “a constant, miserable challenge”, but emphasized they had “never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted.”
“We are heartbroken, angry, and disgusted at what has been revealed. This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives,” the November 2013 statement read.
‘As painful today’
Guitarist Lee Gaze, who co-founded the band with Watkins in 1997, opened up in a heartfelt July post on X about the emotional toll of the band’s sudden collapse. Reflecting on the devastating aftermath, he wrote that “it is as painful today as it was then.”
“It’s been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it’s still painful to think about. Things could’ve been so different.
“I don’t talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should’ve lasted a lifetime. I never really wronged anyone my whole life, so it seemed like the ultimate punishment,” he shared.
Watkins killed
On the morning of October 11, 2025, Watkins, 48, was attacked and fatally stabbed inside HMP Wakefield. According to reports from the Daily Mail, his throat was slashed as prison cells were being opened at around 9:39 a.m.
Despite emergency response efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. West Yorkshire Police later confirmed two inmates – Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43 – had been charged with murder in connection with the killing.
Gaze responds to Watkins’ death
In the wake of Watkins’ violent death, many fans turned to the surviving members of Lostprophets, offering words of support and sympathy.
Gaze, 50, responded on X, expressing quiet gratitude for the messages.
“Thanks for the kind words,” he wrote in the comments of one fan post.
When another user said they were sorry the band had to relive such trauma, Gaze replied: “Onwards and upwards.”
He also addressed resurfaced footage from a 2010 interview in which Watkins made unsettling remarks about his “guilty pleasure.” Viewed in hindsight, the comments have taken on a darker meaning.
“Yeh, and that sick c*** obvs knew what he was saying. I can assure you had any of us known he’d never [have] made it as far as prison,” Gaze wrote.
Watkins may be gone, but for the victims — and those who once trusted him — the scars remain. And for Lee Gaze, it’s clear the pain of betrayal still lingers, more than a decade later.
Please let us know what you think of Watkin’s death – was justice served?
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