For the first time since Ian Watkins was sentenced to 35 years in prison for child sex-related crimes, former Lostprophets guitarists Lee Gaze and Mike Lewis have broken their silence regarding the ex-frontman’s drug problems as well as his crimes. Also interviewed was one of Watkins‘ love interests Karen Ruttner, who also helped manage the bands daily affairs.
The full story can be seen at this location with excerpts found below:
Mike Lewis on their first intervention with Watkins for his then secretive cocaine and crystal meth abuse:
“At first he was sort of humble and assured us it wasn’t a problem. But later, I got the impression that he came away from that first intervention thinking, ‘Fuck those guys, they’re judging me, I can do whatever I want.’ At that point, the rest of us were all married, or very stable in our lives. I think part of the whole midlife crisis was a rebellion against the rest of us, in terms of, ‘You guys are all settling down with your wives and 2.4 children; well, I’m going to go the other way.’”
Karen Ruttner on Watkins‘ second drug intervention in April 2012 following his stint in drug counselling in 2011:
“That month was probably the worst I ever saw him. He was disgusting, so messed up. He was starting to have issues with his teeth falling out and rotting. He let his hygiene go, he was never showering. He looked bloated and unhealthy and his skin was getting bad. All the things he said he wouldn’t let happen were starting to happen. It got to the point where he couldn’t sleep without taking this powder that body-builders use to sleep, because they get so hyped working out. He would take too much of that and pass out, and I would try and wake him to get him to come to soundcheck and he’d be like a log. It was just horrible to watch.”
On how Watkins‘ drug abuse impacted the band:
Lee Gaze:
“His priority was no longer the band being successful, but more being in a band to sustain another life he had, which he seemed to enjoy more, which was sleeping around with girls and taking drugs. He was in his own world, doing his own thing. You wouldn’t really want to hang out with him unless you had to.”
Mike Lewis:
“I couldn’t even have a conversation with him towards the end. On the rare occasion when I would have to be alone with him, I absolutely dreaded it, because it was so awkward. We’d had so many fallings out and it was pointless trying to speak to him because he would spend half his time looking at his phone, and he was so secretive about the women he was seeing, or what he was doing.”
Mike Lewis upon finding out the nature of his sexual crimes following his arrest:
“Never, within all the years of touring with Ian and knowing Ian, have I ever seen him with an underage girl, ever. It was always women over the age of 18.”
“I tried reading the judge’s report. I couldn’t even finish it. To think that somebody I grew up with, who I had been friends with my entire life, whose mother I knew, and how close our families were — to even imagine him… I find it utterly unbelievable that he was capable of doing those things. Obviously he did, but how somebody can… I don’t understand it, I’m afraid.”
Lee Gaze:
“There was absolutely nothing that led us to suspect what he’d done. I think he created such a smokescreen. I hate to rely on clichés, but when you see the profile of a paedophile, he couldn’t be any further from it. He was always surrounded by all these women, so it just seemed impossible.”
On their contact with Watkins since his sentencing:
Lee Gaze:
“For the first two months he was in prison [before the guilty plea], I worried about how he was, knowing that he’s quite a weak character. He’s a bit of a coward, not a tough guy by any means. To be in prison, where he’s going to be the guy from the rock band with those charges, I was worried. But then I reached a point where real resentment set in.”
Mike Lewis:
“I’ve thought about it long and hard and, no, I have no interest in ever speaking to him again. I feel incredibly bad for his mother and his whole family and the stigma they have to endure now because of what he’s done and what his actions have done to hurt many people. But I have no interest in questioning him about it. Never.”
