Stuart Richardson (born 15 August 1973) is a Welsh bassist, producer, and songwriter. He is best known as the bassist for the alternative rock band Lostprophets from 1998 until the band's dissolution in 2013, and subsequently as a founding member of the band No Devotion. He has also served as the touring bassist for the American rock band Thursday since 2017.
Early life and influences
Richardson was born in Tonypandy, Wales, and was an only child. His father worked as a miner and his mother held various jobs including work in a butcher's shop and a doctor's office. He has cited David Bowie as one of his earliest musical obsessions and was inspired to learn bass guitar by Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.
Career
Richardson began his career in the music industry in the mid-1990s, working as a producer in his local area of Wales. By the late 1990s, he was working as an engineer at Front Line Studios in Caerphilly, where he first met the other members of Lostprophets. He had produced the band's first two demos before joining them as bassist in 1998, replacing Mike Lewis, who had switched to rhythm guitar. Lostprophets were signed to Columbia Records and Visible Noise in 2000 and released five studio albums: The Fake Sound of Progress (2000), Start Something (2004), Liberation Transmission (2006), The Betrayed (2010), and Weapons (2012).
In October 2013, following the arrest and charging of lead singer Ian Watkins on multiple sexual offences, Richardson and the remaining members of Lostprophets announced they could no longer continue as a band. In 2014, they formed a new band, No Devotion, with Geoff Rickly of Thursday as lead vocalist. No Devotion has released two albums: Permanence (2015) and No Oblivion (2022).
Richardson has also worked extensively as a producer and mixer for other artists, including Funeral for a Friend, Attack! Attack!, and Bars and Melody.
Personal life
Richardson is the co-owner of Rocky Water Studios, located in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne Beach, Florida. He resides in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and two daughters. He is endorsed by Orange Amplifiers.
Discography (selected)
- With Lostprophets: The Fake Sound of Progress (EP, 1999; album, 2000), Start Something (2004), Liberation Transmission (2006), The Betrayed (2010), Weapons (2012)
- With No Devotion: Permanence (2015), No Oblivion (2022)
