walesonsunday

The manics, Catatonia, Stereophonics - they've all tried to crack america but failed - Now a little known Welsh band is poised to suceed.

The Lostprophets are being trumpeted as the new band for America and they've just signed a record deal with US record giant Columbia.
Whats more, the Prophets who are made up of six boys from pontypridd, are being managed by Peter Mensch, the man known in music biz as the god of rock management.
His clients include monsters of rock, AC/DC, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Metaliica.
"It's pretty amazing - he hasnt had a failure, as far as i know," said guitarist Lee Gaze 26.
"We're hoping to tour the States in October and we're really looking foward to it.
"Our first album will be out in America by then, and we've already got fans out there, so we're hoping it will be a really good tour."

Guitarist Mike Lewis added: "Yeah, we want to crack the US - then we want to crack the whole world."
The rap/metal band already have famous fans.
America's Linkin Park who the Prophets supported in London - have gone on record as saying the boys have "got what it takes to go down a storm in the US."
But fof guitarist Mike Lewis, 23, staying modest is vital.
"We think OK, we're going to tour America, we've got a massive record company behind us, and Peter Mensch is managing us - it all looks really good," said Mike.
"But what we've got to do is keep working really hard and not rest on our laurels," said the level headed guitarist.
"This is what we want to do, so of course we're going to give it our best shot.
"you go through school, then university, you come out and you're looking at a nine-to-five job - it just does your head in, So we're all totally into the music."

And Lee says he'll be happy even if the US tour doesnt work out.
"We'll have fun anyway and get to see a bit of America whatever happens," he said, "Not that we're really into the idea of a Led Zeppelin-style tour, with lots of hotel trashing - that's been done hasnt it?
"As for the groupie action, we've all got girlfriends, so we're not really interested in the groupie thing."

The Lostprophets formed 3 years ago.
"We've all been in other bands and we just got together eventually," said band member Lee.
"We all went to the same dew schools in the ponty area, and we got to know each other through music. I was never much of a one for school myself, i was always more into doing the music."
"We started off playing places like TJ's in Newport and some clubs in Cardiff. After a while we started getting gigs in different parts of the country, and this year we've had some great bookings - the Reading festival, supporting Linkin Park and the Deftones in London.
"It makes me optimistic about doing well when we're in America. And the fact that Peter Mensch was interested enough to manage us tells me we've got a chance of doing well out there."

Even the biggest British bands have failed in the US - even Oasis and the Manics havent done that well in the states.
"The only band i can think of from Britain who have been huge in the US are Bush - and ironically they're not very big at home," said Mike.