Ian Watkins’ Lostprophets bandmate Lee Gaze has revealed he has ‘refound’ his love of music following an inquest into the paedophile frontman’s prison murder.
The depraved rock singer, 48, died in an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield on October 11, where he was serving nearly three decades for a catalogue of child sex offences.
Taking to X Lee, 50, told fans it had taken him a ‘very long time’ but he was now back in the studio alongside fellow band guitarist Stu Richardson, 13 years after their last album and going their separate ways.
‘For those that missed it, I spent the last year writing a record that sounds like the music I’m probably most known for. I have ten songs and we are in the process. Mixing some tracks to send to a potential singer. Stu is also involved. Hoping to release this in 2026’.
But when one follower asked who would be providing vocals, replacing Watkins, Lee said he would be keeping their identity private.
Another commented: ‘It warms my heart that you’ve rediscovered your love of this sound. It’s a sound that has had a big influence on me personally. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks so. Let’s see what the future brings us! Keep it up mate. All the best’.
Ian Watkins’ Lostprophets bandmate Lee Gaze (pictured 2011) has revealed he has ‘refound’ his love of music following an inquest into the paedophile frontman’s prison murder
The depraved rock singer, 48, died in an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield on October 11, where he was serving nearly three decades for a catalogue of child sex offences
To which Lee replied: ‘Took a very long time to get back here’.
Someone else commented: ‘Thank you so much Lee. The recent news has sent me into a deep dive of emotions and nostalgia which has been revealing-many unprocessed feelings. It’s EPIC to hear your update. Cannot WAIT to hear what comes next. Thank you for bringing the light back’.
To which the musician replied with a grateful prayer emoji.
Lee founded the Lostprophets alongside Stuart Richardson, Mike Lewis, Ian Watkins and Luke Johnson in 1997 in Pontypridd, South Wales.
The band released five studio albums, four of which were in the UK top ten, and sold millions of records across the world.
But Lostprophets announced it would be parting ways a month before Watkins’s sentencing.
Friday’s inquest revealed the rocker had been ambushed by prisoners when inmates were allowed out of their cells at 9am.
West Yorkshire area coroner Oliver Longstaff this morning opened and adjourned an inquest hearing in Wakefield.
Taking to X Lee (second left) told fans that it had taken him a ‘very long time’ but he was now back in the studio alongside fellow band guitarist Stu Richardson (far left) Band pictured 2005
But when one follower asked who would be providing vocals, replacing Watkins, Lee said he would be keeping their identity private
A provisional post-mortem concluded Watkins died from ‘an incision wound to the neck’ at the West Yorkshire jail, the brief hearing was told.
He was pronounced dead by a doctor and his body identified by a prison officer.
Area coroner for West Yorkshire, Oliver Longstaff, said: ‘Ian Watkins was pronounced deceased on October 11, 2025, by paramedics who had attended HMP Wakefield where he was a serving prisoner, following a report that he had been stabbed in the neck.
‘A forensic post-mortem has given a provisional cause of death for him of incision wound to the neck.
‘Other prisoners have been charged with Mr Watkins’ murder.’
It comes after Lee’s wife Syirin Said said she and her guitarist husband of 17 years had been left with nothing and had to rebuild their lives with no support.
The mother, a former singer of Malaysian girl group M’Steen, at times looked emotional in a video posted on her TikTok.
It comes after Lee’s wife Syirin Said said she and her guitarist husband of 17 years had been left with nothing and had to rebuild their lives with no support
(From left to right) Lee Gaze, Stuart Richardson, Mike Lewis, Ian Watkins and Luke Johnson of Lostprophets pictured in July, 2010, after winning the ‘Kerrang! Classic Songwriter’ award
Breaking her silence for the first time since child abuser Watkinswas jailed for his heinous crimes in 2013 and days after he was killed in prison, Said said his death had ‘brought back a lot of emotions and experiences’.
Said hit back at those posting comments on social media about Lostprophets with ‘zero context, zero empathy’ for victims, former bandmates, and their families’ and said it had spurned her on to ‘speak up’.
Said told how a ‘curse’ had befallen her household when Watkins was exposed as a paedophile and they couldn’t even ‘whisper’ the band’s name.
‘Do you know how much that hurt us?’ she said.
‘I taught my kids to know what’s good, what’s bad, and always to hold on to the good – like the music that their dad created that touched many hearts.
‘One man’s wrong doesn’t bury decades of real hard work.’
