21st Century Britain: The Dark Secrets of Ian Watkins

How often do you see your favourite frontmen on a personal level?

The answer is usually never.

They can look like they enjoy themselves, when really they are suicidal, like Kurt Cobain. They can seem really and nice, but turn out to be a knob, like Damon Albarn. Or, they have a twisted dark side. Much like former-Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins.

Last year it was revealed that the Welshman had been charged with numerous child sex offences, shocking pretty much anyone who knew of his band. Unfortunately, the band ceased to exist after these allegations.

Lostprophets announced in October after a lengthy hiatus that they were officially over after 15 years as a band, a sad time especially when they really had no choice. Quit now or continue as the band that used to be fronted by a child abuser?

Yesterday, Ian Watkins pleaded guilty to 11 acts of child abuse, which grotesquely included raping a baby. In court it showed Watkins appearing to Skype fans with young children and telling them to abuse them. Watkins even discussed with one of the women about blowing crystal meth smoke in her infant's face. Jesse Pinkman would not approve.

However, I discovered today that an ex-girlfriend of Watkins had already complained to the police after Watkins frequently confessed to being a paedophile. These accusations were dismissed as there was not sufficient evidence, which is fair enough.

Then, I came across an article in the Independent. It mentioned that Watkins uploaded videos of him featuring in child pornography on illegal porn sites. Fans of Watkins - after seeing indecent images on his computer - also reported him to the police. Now at this point, it goes by "angry stalker" and becomes serious. Several accusations and not even a search from the police raises some questions when an innocent football fan - Rangers fan in the Manchester riots of 2008 - can be singled out and beaten to a pulp on assumption, yet the police don't react on assumption in a case that is a more serious matter than drunken fighting.

If accusations like that weren't enough then you would think that the video for their 2008 single "A Town Called Hypocrisy" wasn't an additional clue that something wasn't right. The video consists Watkins being a children's TV show presenter before getting drunk and mental in an after party. There's something very creepy about the video and as allegations first came about around that time, I am sure that they could have possibly suspected something.

But like Savile, Glitter and Harris before him; he got away with it for a while before being brought to justice. However, that is at least five years where he was freely allowed to abuse children as he pleased and delve into the darkest, vilest corners of pornography. There has to be a tighter grip on these sort of accusations, but also, you have to respect privacy to a certain extent. Hopefully this kickstarts an improvement in the police force.

To wrap up, I was shocked by this news. Loved a few Lostprophets songs (who didn't like Rooftops?) and at one point I was naive enough to think he was really cool. It's a shame for the other five band members who have pretty much lost their career and my sympathy goes out to them. As for Watkins after reading all the disturbing stories of his personal life, I cannot describe my hatred for him, but yet, a little part of me has died. I hope Watkins is the last of these "celeb paedos" because it starts to ruin everything that you believe in as a teenager, idolising these "role models".

Sadly, I find it hard to believe this will be the last.

Follow me on Twitter: @ML0g

Sportman: Drivers Without Sponsors? F Off!

So it is this time of year where I die a little in side - Formula One hibernates for another four months.

Yes, I the left-wing teen who hates big money invading sport, loves the biggest motorsport in the world.

In this time, the 11 teams confirmed for next year will change their cars to fit new regulations for the 2014 season. However, there is something more important that is changing this season - the drivers.

Formula One in the past few years has become a sport of politics and who has the biggest buck, rather than who deserves a seat. We have had a breath of fresh air/worrying swarm of young drivers coming through the sport and making me feel old.

There are three rookie drivers who will start on the grid, with more to be announced. These kids are: Daniil Kvyat (19, Toro Rosso), Kevin Magnussen (21, McLaren) and Sergey Sirotkin (Sauber and he is 10 days younger than me).

Of course, some of you will be asking me, "Are you telling me that you are angry that young drivers are on the grid?"

Well, I wouldn't say angry, more frustrated.

The fact is, that these boys - despite their racing talent - will be chosen because they are worth vital money to the team, take a look at some of the previous rookies:

Pastor Maldonado

Venezuelan driver, soon to be ex-Williams, has developed a reputation for being quite aggressive and clumsy. Won the Spanish Grand Prix in 2012.

 Sergio Perez

Also replaced. Showed promising signs in his debut year at Sauber, before being snapped up by McLaren. Still trying to find a seat for next year.

Esteban Gutierrez

Newbie who has had a competent year, but obviously replaced Kobayashi due to his sponsorship.

This has left some very talented drivers leaving F1. Heikki Kovaleinen was gutted when asked about a seat at the end of 2012, stating that sponsors ruin chances for good drivers. Kamui Kobayashi - one of the most exciting race drivers of 2011 and 2012 - also lost his drive for Sauber in favour of Esteban Gutierrez. They also join a list of Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado (ironically), Paul Di Resta, Sergio Perez (also ironically) and Adrian Sutil.

This spells danger for Di Resta and Sutil as both drivers do not have an oil-rig named after them or came out the womb to be sponsored by Telemex.

I know that karting has never been a hobby for the working-class, but they are certainly distancing the sport from the poorer folk. Why would I want to watch drivers who are only in the sport because of millionaires? And who can even say for certain if we will be able to watch this sport for free in the future?

Can drivers make it into Formula One without sponsorship these days? Yes, but it will take some talent. The best way to get into F1 these days is through Toro Rosso's youth system, but even at that, it's a slim chance.

Surely there will be an uproar about skint drivers losing out on opportunities? Probably, but Bernie Ecclestone won't change anything. The more money, the better.

Apparently.

Leave comments below and tell me your opinion about the state of Formula One financially.

Do you think that sponsored drivers are just as good as those who do not receive funding?

Who do you think is the best driver to receive mass funding?

For updates, follow me on Twitter: @ML0g

What Music Culture?: Have Arctic Monkeys Stamped Their Authority?

If I rewind just two years ago, back to November 2011, I went to see my favourite band for the first time. The strange thing was, as a 16 year old boy, I never felt passionately about a band, even my favourite one. When I came out of the SECC that night, I was so happy, but at the same time, I felt that there was something missing. Now I know what was missing - personality.

If you haven't gathered by now, the band I went to see was Arctic Monkeys. The support act were The Vaccines - my second favourite band - and yet at the end I thought that The Vaccines done themselves justice, whilst Monkeys were a bit boring. Turner cracked a couple of jokes, the concert had some musical highlights, but would I have called Turner an icon in November 2011?

No.

Would I on the 21st of November 2013?

Definitely.

In November 2011, Arctic Monkeys had hardly put a foot wrong in their career, but they were a band like Kasabian or The Killers - lacking something extraordinary. Kasabian's front man Tom Meighan is constantly overshadowed by his guitarist Serge Pizzorno; whilst The Killers are destructive, with no real group chemistry, as this year has shown.

They all got on and despite losing Andy Nicholson in 2006 - who was replaced by Nick O'Malley - they played like they were their usual selves. However, when they were on stage, it wasn't like watching The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles...it was like watching a good - not great - indie rock band.

It all changed after that.

First came the release of the single R U Mine? which rocked the socks off fans. Nothing had ever sounded this hard, with the closest being the likes of Crying Lightning and Don't Sit Down 'Cause I Moved Your Chair. This started rumours of a heavier fifth album, but only time would tell.

Then came the Olympics Opening Ceremony. The quartet played a cover of The Beatles' Come Together and I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor, looking like a band on the up. Then, there was silence for almost a year.

Where did they go? Well they were busy recording in the LA desert and thanks to Matt Helders' mum (Mrs Helders) we discovered that they were making their fifth album.

In the spring of 2013, we were treated to the single "Do I Wanna Know?". A rifftastic song, with falsettos and a more rock sound than their previous albums. Didn't I mention that in July they would also play Glastonbury? Yeah, that was something else.

Alex Turner came out at Glastonbury looking like a man possessed. There was something strange about him. My family thought he had taken a line before coming out and so did I.

He was eccentric, witty, ostentatious and owned the stage. He held the crowd in his hand, even taking the piss out of Coldplay ("look at the stars" *crowd starts to sing* "Nah I'm jokin pipe down"). It just wasn't normal. He had finally developed as a front man, but as a doubting Thomas I wouldn't believe that until I seen it myself.

The album AM was sex-fuelled, it was different from anything they had done before. They had heavy rock, disco, ballads, hip-hop and indie rock on that album and it worked! Lyrically, Turner was as good as he has always been and the mainstream lovers even started following the Sheffield boys.

Then, there was last night. Although I couldn't participate in standing due to the rapid sell-out (less than a minute in Glasgow, appropriately put on sale right after that Glastonbury performance) I had a view from above which is arguably just as good. I got to see how buzzed the crowd were, how the songs affected them and I got to see the actions of all the band members. The Space Choirboys (Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders falsetto "duo") were great, Cook was a machine on guitar, but played with little effort and Turner was dancing around the stage like a modern-day Mick Jagger. It was something of magic - a real team effort.

Picture is credited to the amazing photographer, Emma Quinn (she threatened to sue me)

Which finally gets to my point, have they stamped their authority on the music industry today? Of course they have and I would go a step further in saying that they are the best British band of the 21st century. Only a couple can come close to them - The Libertines, Coldplay and Muse. The Libertines were like Nirvana, a band who tragically ended abruptly; Coldplay haven't been a consistent band and they bend over for pop; and finally Muse are close, but yet, what was the album Resistance all about? They, like Coldplay are inconsistent, but they are no sell-outs.

As for 21st century bands around the world? They have arguably tore The Strokes who despite their genius sound, like The Killers, have personal problems getting in the way.

Some people would even say that Arctic Monkeys are the best British band of the past 20 years. What do I say? Pretty damn close. Two years ago, I would have dismissed Arctic Monkeys being compared to Blur or Oasis, however, what have they not got that these two bands had? Exactly.

Even if Arctic Monkeys do an MGMT (see Congratulations) and make an album that they love, but many hate, they have already cemented their position in the history books of the 2000s and 2010s.

Leave comments below and tell me if you think that they have earned their place in the music history books. Do you think they deserve to be in the same sentence as the likes of Oasis and Blur?

Who do you think is the greatest (British) band of the 21st century?

Follow me on Twitter for updates: @ML0g

Wee Introduction

So...I'm starting a new blog here called "Modern Life Is Rubbish". Yes, I took inspiration from Blur.

Bit of background on me...my name is Michael, I am a Multimedia Journalism student at Glasgow Caledonian University (Caley), I'm 18 and I'd like to work in sport or music journalism when I graduate.

Anyway, my blog is going to be mainly (not all the time) moaning about things in the news. This might make me look like a pessimistic bastard, but it is better to moan here than moan at everyone in my house.

The areas that you will find on my blog are:

What In the World?

This section will be dedicated to my selected piece of world news of the week in which I will express my opinion.

21st Century Britain

I will discuss the biggest news of the week, usually political.

What Music Culture?

I will be moping about pop music and giving readers new artists to listen to.

Sportman

Big drug scandal in Athletics? Footballers being paid too much? I'll put my view on it.

It's Not All Bad...

This is the part where I don't moan! I'll bring you some of the nice news of the week, either heart-warming or hilarious.

I am planning to have 5 days for the 5 areas that I plan to write on. Until then, stay tuned by following me on Twitter: @ML0g