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
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