Lostprophets return with new singer and name

No Devotion

Lostprophets are back with a new single, having replaced convicted frontman Ian Watkins with ex-Thursday singer Geoff Rickly.

Lee Gaze, Jamie Oliver, Stuart Richardson, Luke Johnson and Mike Lewis have dropped their former moniker in favour of new name, No Devotion.

The five bandmates were left "shocked beyond comprehension" when Watkins was sentenced to 35 years for child sex offences last December and their 15-year career shattered.

A press release issued in relation to their new project reads: "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."

Richardson recalls wondering whether "people would look us in the face" as "everything felt like it was over".

The Welsh rock band approached Rickly when they realised they did not want to give up on music and found that his "famously eclectic musical interests perfectly aligned" with their new direction.

"To be honest, I never really listened to Lostprophets," Rickly said. "But with this music we speak a common language. I had always liked these guys in passing; they're funny and self-aware. I didn't think it was fair what was happening to them and, well, the music was too good to pass up."

The result has been two fresh songs on a debut 12-inch with "Stay" and "Eyeshadow" available to download from iTunes.

"This story is not so much about alienation as it is about connection and it's not about redemption as much as personal reclamation," the statement concludes.

No Devotion are set to tour later this month, playing Cardiff on 22 July, Manchester on 23 July, London on 25 July and Glasgow on 26 July.

- Independent