New album is 'Something'

The band's first release was actually a retooled version of demos.
By JOHN PATRICK GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Four years ago, Lostprophets became the latest band to be hyped by the British press as the Next Big Thing to Break Across America.
The Welsh act did relatively well with its debut release, "thefakesoundofprogress," but didn't prove the prognosticators correct.
"It was cool that they were saying that we were a British band that was good enough to do that," said guitarist Mike Lewis, "but, at the same time, it definitely pressure put upon us."
In typical fashion, initial praise for a new act quickly turned to harsh criticism. Familiar with the approach, Lewis just shrugs off the nasty comments and reviews that now regularly greet his band by writers across the sea.
New album
Right now, he's more concerned with promoting what the members' feel is their true debut album, "Start Something." He points out that the world's introduction to the sextet's music was actually a retooled version of demos that were meant to attract record company interest.
"We were definitely happy that we had got so far off that record 'cause we never ever dreamed that it would get as far as it did. Yet at the same time toward the end [of the touring], when you're still trying to pass off songs that are 3, 4, 5 years old as new songs, when you're playing Ozzfest, it's like you're wishing that you don't have to play those songs. You wish that you could do new ones. It was definitely frustration back then."
Though "thefakesound..." and the band members' image fit nicely within the new metal genre that spread throughout America, "Start Something" displays that Lostprophets should have a healthier shelf life than so many acts that seem stale once a fashionable trend has met its end.
"We did what we wanted to do, what came natural to us, which is something that we've always done. We've always just written whatever we've wanted to. That's why you have songs on the record like "Start Something" and on the other end of the spectrum, songs like "Last Summer," which is a total pop song.
Attitude
"We never really thought about, 'We don't want to part of this scene' or 'We should be part of this scene.' We just do what we want. Maybe the next record will be a little more diverse."
That attitude spreads to the group's touring plans. It toured for three years behind "thefakesound...."
"We never meant to tour that much," Lewis said. "The record was coming out in different countries at different times. So, we started off playing in tiny clubs and just kept on building and building and building. Before we knew it, we'd been on tour for years.
"This time with the record coming out everywhere at the same time, it's more controlled."
Lostprophets hit the road before the release of "Start Something," then joined Hoobastank for a set of dates. Currently, its part of the Nintendo Fusion Tour, which makes Lewis and his bandmates, friends since childhood very happy. "It's fun. Nintendo, we've all been into it for years."
Metallica
Of course, playing to crowds who embraced the current album's first single, "Last Train Home," is much different from a set of European dates opening for Metallica.
"It wasn't an easy tour for us crowdwise. We're not the heaviest band in the world, and Metallica fans are notoriously tough for bands."
Still, Lewis described the opportunity to open for the legendary heavy-metal act as a privilege and talked fondly of Metallica frontman James Hetfield's visiting his group backstage to offer advice and encouragement.
After the Nintendo run, Lostprophets may do a few radio-sponsored concerts in America and then headline arenas in the United Kingdom to cap off 2004's promoting activities.
Now that the group is finally breaking in this country -- "Start Something" has gone gold and continues to sell -- there may be a readjustment in the band's schedule with these road warriors taking it to stages across the world once more.