Prophets are booming...

Gig of the week

Lost Prophets, Manchester Apollo, Thursday

WELSH rockers Lost Prophets have been around the block a few times since they got together in 1997.

The band was only formed as a side project to hardcore punk band Public Disturbance but four albums and numerous tours later it seems like they are here to stay.

After releasing a number of demos in their early days, Lost Prophets caught the eye of Kerrang and Metal Hammer.

Their first album “The Fake Sound Of Progress” was released in 2000 and the band signed to Columbia, a division of Sony Records.

Support slots with the likes of Pitchshifter, Linkin Park and Deftones helped Lost Prophets build up their fanbase while stints on tours such as Nu-Titans and Deconstruction thrust them further into the spotlight.

It wasn’t long before the lads — Ian Watkins, Lee Gaze, Mike Lewis, Stuart Richardson, Jamie Oliver and Luke Johnson — were playing Glastonbury, Ozzfest and Leeds/Reading Festival. Second album “Start Something” came out in 2004 and soared to number four in the charts. Global tours soon followed.

“Liberation Transmission” was released in 2006 and saw the band return to playing small venues in a bid to connect with their fans.

The band claim fourth album “The Betrayed” is the most honest album they’ve ever written and critics say it is grittier and sleazier than previous efforts.