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Welsh outfit 'Lostprophets'
were formed in late 1997 by a group of friends fed up of not
hearing what they wanted in the modern alternative music
scene. The band comprise of 6 members all from varied
musical backgrounds.
Their first recorded demo in 1997 gained a 10/10 review in
'Metal Hammer' with the reviewer commenting that the band
should be signed immediately. After taking a few months off
to help members complete university studies and to travel,
the band took a low profile to focus on their sound which is
a great fusion of the bands members influences, from metal
to post-hardcore to hip hop to breakbeat.
Mike chooses AA Metal-X as his main model preference
I caught up with stickman
Mike Chiplin at the Brixton Academy in the U.K. during
soundcheck. Towering over 6 feet tall, he is known as the
father figure in the band, loves his humour, with a big
heart and knows what he wants.
His drumming is thunderous and filled with emotion and
intension, he keeps up with those hard riffs thrown at him
by the band and has no trouble locking down the rhythms.
Checking out his cymbal sound, Mike chooses to use AA
Metal-X as his main model preference (his 'live' cymbal
set-up below). The cymbals matches Mike's power and
projected even through the loudest situation - more
impressively, still had the sensitivity during quieter
interludes.
'
Mike Chiplin and Jerome Marcus
(SABIAN Artist Relations) caught backstage
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Mike Chiplin during
soundcheck at the Brixton Academy
Catching this band 'live' is
awesome projecting a powerful sound and to get the most from
this band you need to get stuck in and go with the flow - no
foot tapping stuff here!!!
Die hard' fans sing along to all their songs, shouting out
their favourites as the whole of the Brixton Academy turns
into one big 'mosh-pit' - the band has really started
something!!!
Their 2004 schedule is no less than impressive but filled
with intensive hard work.
After their major support slot with Linkin Park last year,
the band began this year with 'Big Day Out' in New Zealand
and Australia, then flew to the U.S. to do the West Coast.
They've just finished their headlining U.K. tour and
presently they begin their European leg of the tour, then
off to Canada to record the next video for the single in
Toronto, Canada, then back to the U.S. again to do East
Coast and central North America, followed by a support slot
with Slipknot then the Metallica tour, returning to the U.K.
and Europe again for the summer festivals to include
'Download 2004' and 'Rock Am Ring' - an incredible gruelling
tour schedule for the next 7 months, I guess.
Their current single 'Last Train Home' has charted Top 10
and so has their album 'Start Something', their current
single video is constantly circulated on MTV, VH1, Kerrang
and Scuzz TV in the U.K.
I can say that this band is now more focused than ever - for
hard music fans, you really need to check them out and check
out Mike Chiplin!!!
Mike Chiplin's cymbal set-up:
- 21" AA Metal-X Ride
- 15" AA Metal-X Hats
- 19" AA Metal-X Crash
- 20" AA Metal-X Chinese
- 20" AA Rock Crash
- 12" AAX Metal Splash
For further
information:
www.lostprophets.com
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