The Lostprophets are preparing for the release of Start Something, the successor to the group’s 2001 independently released, The Fake Sound of Progress. The new Lostprophets album is produced by Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Good Charlotte) and features the first single, “Last Train Home,” which was the unexpected #1 most added track at modern rock radio this week and #2 most added at the active rock format. The stations who have added the track include the Los Angeles based modern rock pacesetter KROQ. Start Something is scheduled to be released on February 3, 2004.
The group recently completed work on a new video for “Last Train Home,” lensed with director Brian Scott Weber (Trapt). The video was shot in Los Angeles prior to a series of dates opening for Linkin Park in the UK. Lostprophets will perform at the prestigious Big Day Out festival in Australia before headlining their own UK tour.
Hailing from the tiny town of Pontypridd, Wales, Lostprophets first gained attention with their 2001 independent release, The Fake Sound of Progress (Visible Noise). The album was meant to be a demo but ended up being a top 40, gold album in the UK. In the US, it was re-released by Columbia Records and the band toured relentlessly, sharing stages with bands like Hoobastank, The Used, Glassjaw, Andrew W.K., Linkin Park and Movielife. Fueled by hard work and street buzz, the album went on to sell over 100,000 copies, leaving the band with an increased motivation to go back in the studio and make an album that would be worthy (in their minds) of the hype the UK press had thrust upon them.
“On the first record,” Ian says, “we didn’t know if anyone would hear it. Now, we knew there was an audience, it’s a chance to make a real statement.” On the opportunity to work with producer Eric Valentine, Ian commented, “We thought it was cool that he could do anything from underground rock to the most mainstream band; the only niche he fits in is making amazing records.”
Not having a niche has been problematic for Lostprophets. The UK press has called them everything from the “Nu-Metal Boy Band” to the “Pontypridd skate hunks”. But with the advent of “Start Something”, people are starting to see that Lostprophets have a similar niche to the one Ian attaches to producer Eric Valentine…making amazing records.
Lostprophets are: Ian Watkins (vocals), Jamie Oliver (programming and vocals), Lee Gaze (guitar), Mike Lewis (guitar), Stuart Richardson (bass) and Mike Chiplin (drums).
