Stereophonics
Encyclopedia
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band
now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman
in Cynon Valley
, Wales
. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones
, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones
, drummer Javier Weyler
, guitarist and backing vocalist, Adam Zindani
and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards), the group having originally also included Stuart Cable
on drums. Stereophonics have released seven studio albums, five of which have topped the UK Albums Chart
. Their seventh, Keep Calm and Carry On
, was released in November 2009 but did not make the Top 10. A successful compilation album was also released in November 2008 – Decade in the Sun
charting at number two in the United Kingdom. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene
.
Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals," the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock
and "British traditional rock." Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around
, was released in August 1997 and instantly charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph
", "More Life in a Tramps Vest
" and "A Thousand Trees
", all of which failed to affect the top 20. The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails
(and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief
", "Just Looking
" and "Pick a Part That's New
") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number-one: 2005's "Dakota
". The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds
in 2000, Glastonbury
in 2002, V festival
in 2002, the Isle of Wight
in 2004 and 2009, and Oxegen
in 2010.
and previous lead inspiration Ieuan Beal, they began writing and performing music in working men's clubs together in 1992 as a teenage cover band known as 'Tragic Love Company', a name inspired by their favourite bands (The Tragically Hip
, Mother Love Bone
and Bad Company
). The band later changed their name to "The Stereophonics", named after the manufacturer of a record player that had belonged to Cable's father.
In March 1996, the band played a gig at their local Coliseum Theatre
with Catatonia
Krazy Keyboards and Pocket Devils. They played as Tragic Love Company and so impressed band manager John Brand that he signed a management deal with them after the concert.
In May 1996, they were the first artists to be signed to newly formed record label V2
, created by Richard Branson
. Upon signing, they dropped "The" from their name and simply became "Stereophonics"
, which reached #6 in the UK charts, from which five singles were released. Afterwards, the band embarked on a successful world tour.
In February 1998, the band received a BRIT Award
for Best New Group. In the same week, the band re-released the single "Local Boy in the Photograph
" which, in turn, reached position 14 in the UK Singles Chart
. The band's debut album, Word Gets Around, also went gold
in the UK.
In November 1998, "The Bartender and the Thief
" (the first single from the album Performance and Cocktails
) was released, eventually reaching number 3 on the UK charts. "Just Looking
" was released next and reached number 4 in March 1999. In that same month, the album was released, entering at number 1 and going platinum within three weeks. Later that year, the band played in front of 50,000 people at Morfa Stadium
in Swansea
. The concert was filmed and released on DVD the following year. They also collaborated with Tom Jones
on a cover of the Randy Newman
song "Mama Told Me Not To Come
", for the Tom Jones album Reload.
Throughout 1998 and 1999, the band toured in Europe, Australia and the US. On 12 June 1998, Stereophonics played to over 10,000 spectators in the grounds of Cardiff Castle
in Wales. Footage of the concert was released on VHS and DVD, titled Live at Cardiff Castle
.
(JEEP), in April 2001. The album included the track "Mr. Writer
", which includes lyrics that criticise a critic whom the band believe gave them an unfairly negative review. The album also contained one of the band's most famous tracks, "Have a Nice Day
", which reached #5 in the UK charts.
To promote the new album, Just Enough Education to Perform, the Stereophonics played a two-day festival, which was called A Day at the Races. This event was held in Donington Park
on the first day and at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium
on the second. The concerts were supported by Ash
, Black Crowes and The Crocketts
. Over 200,000 separate tickets were sold for the weekend festival. The performance was released on a DVD in 2002.
2003 saw the release of their fourth album, titled You Gotta Go There to Come Back
. In September 2003, drummer Stuart Cable
was sacked. According to reports, it was because of his lack of commitment to the band. Cable, at the time, presented a TV show called "Cable TV" and felt that the band would never improve. Because of this, he missed several rehearsals and live concerts. He was eventually replaced by present drummer Javier Weyler
. Steve Gorman
, from The Black Crowes, stood in for Cable during the band's live performances until Weyler was appointed. When asked about Cable leaving the band in a 2010 interview with Rip It Up magazine
, Kelly Jones admitted to the difficulty of the situation.
Towards the end of the year, Stereophonics did a sold-out tour of the UK, ending with a Christmas show at the Millennium Stadium
, Cardiff, supported by Feeder
and Ocean Colour Scene
. The group took a break after their 2003–2004 world tour, which included a set at the Manchester Move Festival in July 2004.
Their fifth studio album, Language. Sex. Violence. Other?
was released in March 2005. It marked their first recording with new drummer Javier Weyler. The band achieved their first number 1 hit in the UK singles charts with the album's first single – the punky, upbeat "Dakota
". The second single from the album was "Superman". However, that song did not repeat the success of "Dakota", peaking at number 13. After "Superman" came "Devil", featuring a controversial video and reaching number 11 in the charts. The album was nominated for a Pop Factory award
at the end of the year, losing out to Feeder
's Pushing the Senses
.
The band played in Vancouver, Canada in April 2005 with opening band The Manvils
. Following the concert, Kelly Jones
invited Manvils' lead guitarist, fellow Welshman Mark Parry, to join Stereophonics on the road as second guitarist in the band for their world tour. On 2 July 2005, the group appeared at the Live 8
concert in Hyde Park, London
, playing to their biggest audience yet.
The band were scheduled to support Oasis for a number of dates across Europe, in early 2006, but pulled out due to family commitments. 2006 also saw the release of Stereophonics' first live album, Live from Dakota
. The album is a two-disc compilation, featuring twenty tracks spanning all five of the band's albums and capturing the best of their 2005 world tour. Rather than being a recording of a single show, the tour was recorded every night and the band picked out the best version of each song individually. The album also features a track titled "Jayne", later released as part of Kelly Jones' solo album, Only the Names Have Been Changed
.
Pull the Pin
was released in the UK on 15 October 2007, along with a download-only taster; "Bank Holiday Monday". The track was also available for free to people who pre-ordered tickets for the band's concerts in 2007. The album was written and recorded by November 2006 but held back for release until late 2007. "It Means Nothing" was the first single of the album, released in September before the LP was released a week later on 15 October. The album contains twelve songs and reached number 1 in the UK's official album chart. The next single, "My Friends", reached #32 in the UK charts, their poorest chart performance since "More Life in a Tramps Vest" from their debut album.
On 20 May 2007, at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Preston, the band were joined on stage by Casino frontman Adam Zindani. Zindani continued to tour with the band for the remainder of the Pull the Pin tour, playing lead guitar and backing vocals. He has been credited for writing and performing on two of the band's new tracks, "You're My Star" and "My Own Worst Enemy". On "You're My Star", he sings backing vocals and plays lead guitar. Whereas, on "My Own Worst Enemy", he only plays lead guitar.
.
The band are regulars at British summer festivals. Most recently they have played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 and 2009. In 2010 they have appeared at V Festival
, as well as T in the Park
having already played there in 2008. They also appeared at the Oxegen
in the Republic of Ireland in July 2010.
On 8 December 2009, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
announced the line up for performers for the nightly Victory Ceremonies. These ceremonies included 30 minutes of entertainment from the evening's host province/territory, 30 minutes of medal presentations, and a one hour performance by a musical talent. Stereophonics performed their song "I Got Your Number" at this event on 20 February - Yukon Night.
The band's seventh album is titled Keep Calm and Carry On
and was released on 16 November 2009. They decided on this name after seeing a poster in The White Horse pub in Richmond where they spent a lot of time whilst recording the album. The album's debut single was "Innocent
". The second single from the album, "Could You Be The One?
", was released on 15 February 2010. The band embarked on a seven-date tour to support the new album in March 2010 playing at Aberdeen, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and London. with support from Glasgow band Hip Parade
.
On 5 June 2010, Stereophonics played the first-ever gig at the Cardiff City Stadium with Support from unsigned South Wales band '4th Street Traffic' followed by 'Kids In Glass Houses' and 'The Doves'. The concert, known as Summer in the City was played to a sold-out audience of 30,000. Two days later, on 7 June, original drummer Stuart Cable was found dead in his home in Aberdare
having choked on his own vomit after a drinking binge
. He was 40 years old.
On 3 March 2011, Stereophonics announced on their Facebook page that they were working on new music in the studio.
. The DVD is a double disc with a runtime of nearly four hours.
Much of this footage was recorded around the time that the You Gotta Go There to Come Back album was being recorded. This is because a similar band history DVD was listed for release shortly after that album but was never released, due to the departure of Stuart Cable. This explains Kelly's hairstyle (circa 2003/2004) in the interview footage and the appearance of Stuart and the rest of the band freely talking about their togetherness and solidarity as the original three members. The original footage was updated by adding further footage to the end, bringing it up to date with the band's fifth album. Stuart does not appear on any of the extra footage.
Availability coincides with the US re-release of the Language.Sex.Violence.Other? DVD, and the worldwide digital debut of their latest studio album, Pull the Pin
.
In 2007, lead singer Kelly Jones released a solo album, titled Only the Names Have Been Changed
, while recording the band's sixth studio album, Pull the Pin. The album contains ten tracks (all named after women) and features minimal instrumentation. The album also includes the song "Jayne", a previously unreleased Stereophonics track featured on the live album Live from Dakota
and the Rewind DVD.
Guitarist Adam Zindani has continued to work with his own band, Casino, since working with the Stereophonics. Casino's first album, 'The SpiderSimpson Incident' was released in December 2008 and an agreement was reached to have the album available to purchase at Stereophonics' live shows across the UK, that month. Also, Adam is speculated to be working alongside Mel Gibson (of Gibson Guitars) to build a cross between a Les Paul
and a banjo which will be called a Les Banjo.
Stereophonics also performed the original opening theme tune for the TV series Long Way Round
. The song's lyrics were slightly altered for the follow-up series, Long Way Down
.
Previous members
Touring musicians
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman
Cwmaman
Cwmaman is a former coal mining pit village near Aberdare, South Wales. The name Cwmaman is Welsh language for "Aman Valley" . For postal purposes, it comes under Aberdare....
in Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones is a Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the Sex Pistols, Jones is noted for his strong, gravelly voice, which has been described as "whisky" vocals...
, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones
Richard Jones (Stereophonics)
Richard Jones is the bassist and backing vocalist for the Welsh rock band Stereophonics, playing alongside Kelly Jones and Javier Weyler. Jones grew up in Cwmaman, an old mining village in South Wales...
, drummer Javier Weyler
Javier Weyler
Javier Andrés Weyler is the drummer for the Welsh based rock group Stereophonics. Despite being born in Argentina, Weyler lived most of his life in Caracas, Venezuela, and now resides in London, England...
, guitarist and backing vocalist, Adam Zindani
Adam Zindani
Adam Zindani is the guitarist for the Welsh based rock group Stereophonics, and the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Birmingham based band, Casino.-Casino:...
and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards), the group having originally also included Stuart Cable
Stuart Cable
Stuart Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.- Early life :...
on drums. Stereophonics have released seven studio albums, five of which have topped the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. Their seventh, Keep Calm and Carry On
Keep Calm and Carry On (album)
This deluxe edition of Keep Calm and Carry On, as well as containing the actual album, houses additional pictures and a bonus DVD. The DVD gives a backstage look into the Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics tour, and also footage of the recording process for the album...
, was released in November 2009 but did not make the Top 10. A successful compilation album was also released in November 2008 – Decade in the Sun
Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics
Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics is a compilation album of greatest hits by Stereophonics. The album debuted at number 2 with sales of 67,073 in the UK...
charting at number two in the United Kingdom. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene
Cardiff music scene
The music of Cardiff has been dominated mainly by rock music since the early 1990s with later trends developing towards more extreme styles of the genre such as heavy metal, post-hardcore and emo music....
.
Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals," the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and "British traditional rock." Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around
Word Gets Around
2-disc Deluxe EditionCD 1# Carrot Cake and Wine # Tie Me Up Tie Me Down # Poppy Day # Raymond's Shop # Chris Chambers...
, was released in August 1997 and instantly charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph
Local Boy In The Photograph
"Local Boy in the Photograph" is the first single from the rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from their debut album, Word Gets Around and was initially released in March 1997...
", "More Life in a Tramps Vest
More Life In A Tramps Vest
"More Life in a Tramp's Vest" is the second single from the rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from the band's debut album, Word Gets Around and was released in May 1997. It reached #33 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is about life from the view of supermarket bag boy...
" and "A Thousand Trees
A Thousand Trees
"A Thousand Trees" is the fourth single from the rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from their debut album, Word Gets Around and was released in August 1997...
", all of which failed to affect the top 20. The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails
Performance and Cocktails
Performance and Cocktails is Stereophonics' second album. It was released by V2 on 8 March 1999. The album was sponsored by Fender guitars which were used by the band on the album. All three members of the band were given equal credit for writing all the songs on this album...
(and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief
The Bartender and the Thief
"The Bartender and the Thief" is a 1998 single by British rock band the Stereophonics. It was the first single taken from their second album Performance and Cocktails. It was released on 9 November 1998 and reached #3 in the UK charts....
", "Just Looking
Just Looking (song)
"Just Looking" is a 1999 single by British rock band the Stereophonics. It is the second single from the their second album Performance and Cocktails. It was released in February 1999 and reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart. It was certified silver for sales of +200,000. The song is track five on...
" and "Pick a Part That's New
Pick a Part That's New
"Pick a Part That's New" is the third single from rock band the Stereophonics taken from their second album Performance and Cocktails. It was released in May 1999 and reached #4 in the UK charts. The song is track 4 on Performance and Cocktails...
") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number-one: 2005's "Dakota
Dakota (song)
"Dakota" is a song by the Welsh band Stereophonics. It was the first single from their fifth studio album Language. Sex. Violence. Other? and was released on February 28, 2005. It was the first Stereophonics single to reach number 1 on the UK Singles Chart or to chart on the US Modern Rock Tracks...
". The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
in 2000, Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in 2002, V festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
in 2002, the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
in 2004 and 2009, and Oxegen
Oxegen
Oxegen is an annual music festival in Ireland held since 2004, sponsored by Heineken. As of 2007, 2008, 2009, the festival has been cited as Ireland's biggest music festival. And by 2009, the festival is cited as the greenest festival, being a 100% carbon neutral event in Ireland. It was previously...
in 2010.
Formation and early years (1992–1996)
Kelly and Richard grew up together in the village of Cwmaman, Wales. Along with original drummer Stuart CableStuart Cable
Stuart Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.- Early life :...
and previous lead inspiration Ieuan Beal, they began writing and performing music in working men's clubs together in 1992 as a teenage cover band known as 'Tragic Love Company', a name inspired by their favourite bands (The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
, Mother Love Bone
Mother Love Bone
Mother Love Bone was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1988. The band was active from 1988 to 1990. Frontman Andrew Wood's personality and compositions helped to catapult the group to the top of the burgeoning late 1980s/early 1990s Seattle music scene...
and Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
). The band later changed their name to "The Stereophonics", named after the manufacturer of a record player that had belonged to Cable's father.
In March 1996, the band played a gig at their local Coliseum Theatre
Coliseum Theatre (Aberdare)
The Coliseum Theatre is a performing arts venue in the village of Trecynon, near the town of Aberdare, Wales. It is run by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.It was officially opened on Saturday, September 17th 1938...
with Catatonia
Catatonia (band)
Catatonia were an alternative rock band from Wales who gained a national following in the United Kingdom in the mid to late 1990s. The band consisted of Cerys Matthews on vocals, Mark Roberts on guitar, Paul Jones on bass , Owen Powell on...
Krazy Keyboards and Pocket Devils. They played as Tragic Love Company and so impressed band manager John Brand that he signed a management deal with them after the concert.
In May 1996, they were the first artists to be signed to newly formed record label V2
V2 Records
V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
, created by Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
. Upon signing, they dropped "The" from their name and simply became "Stereophonics"
Debut album and ascent to fame (1997–2000)
In August 1997, the band released their first studio album, Word Gets AroundWord Gets Around
2-disc Deluxe EditionCD 1# Carrot Cake and Wine # Tie Me Up Tie Me Down # Poppy Day # Raymond's Shop # Chris Chambers...
, which reached #6 in the UK charts, from which five singles were released. Afterwards, the band embarked on a successful world tour.
 |
 |
|
| Kelly Jones Kelly Jones Kelly Jones is a Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the Sex Pistols, Jones is noted for his strong, gravelly voice, which has been described as "whisky" vocals... |
Richard Jones Richard Jones (Stereophonics) Richard Jones is the bassist and backing vocalist for the Welsh rock band Stereophonics, playing alongside Kelly Jones and Javier Weyler. Jones grew up in Cwmaman, an old mining village in South Wales... |
Stuart Cable Stuart Cable Stuart Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.- Early life :... |
|---|
In February 1998, the band received a BRIT Award
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
for Best New Group. In the same week, the band re-released the single "Local Boy in the Photograph
Local Boy In The Photograph
"Local Boy in the Photograph" is the first single from the rock band Stereophonics. The song is taken from their debut album, Word Gets Around and was initially released in March 1997...
" which, in turn, reached position 14 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The band's debut album, Word Gets Around, also went gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in the UK.
In November 1998, "The Bartender and the Thief
The Bartender and the Thief
"The Bartender and the Thief" is a 1998 single by British rock band the Stereophonics. It was the first single taken from their second album Performance and Cocktails. It was released on 9 November 1998 and reached #3 in the UK charts....
" (the first single from the album Performance and Cocktails
Performance and Cocktails
Performance and Cocktails is Stereophonics' second album. It was released by V2 on 8 March 1999. The album was sponsored by Fender guitars which were used by the band on the album. All three members of the band were given equal credit for writing all the songs on this album...
) was released, eventually reaching number 3 on the UK charts. "Just Looking
Just Looking (song)
"Just Looking" is a 1999 single by British rock band the Stereophonics. It is the second single from the their second album Performance and Cocktails. It was released in February 1999 and reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart. It was certified silver for sales of +200,000. The song is track five on...
" was released next and reached number 4 in March 1999. In that same month, the album was released, entering at number 1 and going platinum within three weeks. Later that year, the band played in front of 50,000 people at Morfa Stadium
Morfa Stadium
Morfa Stadium was an athletics stadium in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. It has now been demolished and the land is occupied by the Morfa Retail Park and the Liberty Stadium, home of the city's football and rugby teams, which opened in 2005....
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. The concert was filmed and released on DVD the following year. They also collaborated with Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
on a cover of the Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
song "Mama Told Me Not To Come
Mama Told Me Not to Come
"Mama Told Me " is a song by Randy Newman written for Eric Burdon's first solo album in 1966. Three Dog Night's 1970 cover of the song topped the U.S. pop singles charts.-Newman original and first recordings:...
", for the Tom Jones album Reload.
Throughout 1998 and 1999, the band toured in Europe, Australia and the US. On 12 June 1998, Stereophonics played to over 10,000 spectators in the grounds of Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is a medieval castle and Victorian architecture Gothic revival mansion, transformed from a Norman keep erected over a Roman fort in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The Castle is a Grade I Listed Building.-The Roman fort:...
in Wales. Footage of the concert was released on VHS and DVD, titled Live at Cardiff Castle
Live at Cardiff Castle
Live at Cardiff Castle is a DVD released by Welsh Rock trio, Stereophonics. The DVD features live recordings from a concert at Cardiff Castle on 12 June 1998.-Track listing:# Looks Like Chaplin# Check My Eyelids For Holes# The Bartender and the Thief...
.
Mainstream success (2001–2004)
The band released their third album, Just Enough Education to PerformJust Enough Education to Perform
Just Enough Education to Perform, also known by its acronym J.E.E.P., is the third studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. Released on 17 April 2001, the album topped the UK Albums Chart with 140,000 copies sold. and spawned three top-ten singles in the form of "Mr. Writer", "Have a Nice...
(JEEP), in April 2001. The album included the track "Mr. Writer
Mr. Writer
"Mr. Writer" is the first single from rock band the Stereophonics taken from their third album Just Enough Education to Perform. It was released in March 2001. It reached #5 in the UK charts....
", which includes lyrics that criticise a critic whom the band believe gave them an unfairly negative review. The album also contained one of the band's most famous tracks, "Have a Nice Day
Have a Nice Day (Stereophonics song)
"Have a Nice Day" is the second single from rock band the Stereophonics taken from the their third album Just Enough Education to Perform also known as JEEP. It was released in June 2001. It reached #5 in the UK charts equalling previous single "Mr. Writer."The song is track 5 on Just Enough...
", which reached #5 in the UK charts.
To promote the new album, Just Enough Education to Perform, the Stereophonics played a two-day festival, which was called A Day at the Races. This event was held in Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
on the first day and at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
on the second. The concerts were supported by Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
, Black Crowes and The Crocketts
The Crocketts
The Crocketts were a rock group originating at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1995/6. They recorded two full length albums for V2 Records - We May Be Skinny And Wirey and The Great Brain Robbery...
. Over 200,000 separate tickets were sold for the weekend festival. The performance was released on a DVD in 2002.
2003 saw the release of their fourth album, titled You Gotta Go There to Come Back
You Gotta Go There to Come Back
You Gotta Go There to Come Back is Stereophonics' fourth album, released on V2 in 2003. It became their third consecutive album to top the UK chart selling 101,946 copies in its first week. It was the final Stereophonics album with long-time original drummer Stuart Cable.The album shows a newly...
. In September 2003, drummer Stuart Cable
Stuart Cable
Stuart Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.- Early life :...
was sacked. According to reports, it was because of his lack of commitment to the band. Cable, at the time, presented a TV show called "Cable TV" and felt that the band would never improve. Because of this, he missed several rehearsals and live concerts. He was eventually replaced by present drummer Javier Weyler
Javier Weyler
Javier Andrés Weyler is the drummer for the Welsh based rock group Stereophonics. Despite being born in Argentina, Weyler lived most of his life in Caracas, Venezuela, and now resides in London, England...
. Steve Gorman
Steve Gorman
Steve Gorman is a musician best known as the drummer of the American hard rock band The Black Crowes. He also spent some time as the drummer for British rock band Stereophonics.- Early career :...
, from The Black Crowes, stood in for Cable during the band's live performances until Weyler was appointed. When asked about Cable leaving the band in a 2010 interview with Rip It Up magazine
Rip It Up (magazine)
Rip It Up is a bi-monthly New Zealand music magazine. Started in June 1977 as a free monthly giveaway, it grew rapidly, with its monthly print run reaching 30,000 copies by the mid 1980s...
, Kelly Jones admitted to the difficulty of the situation.
Towards the end of the year, Stereophonics did a sold-out tour of the UK, ending with a Christmas show at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, Cardiff, supported by Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
and Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
. The group took a break after their 2003–2004 world tour, which included a set at the Manchester Move Festival in July 2004.
Drummer change and band progression (2005–2007)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other?
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? is the fifth studio album by Stereophonics, released March 14, 2005 . It received critical acclaim in the British music press, who had been hostile to the band in recent years, and notably the NME, whose reviews of the band's previous two albums had been harsh...
was released in March 2005. It marked their first recording with new drummer Javier Weyler. The band achieved their first number 1 hit in the UK singles charts with the album's first single – the punky, upbeat "Dakota
Dakota (song)
"Dakota" is a song by the Welsh band Stereophonics. It was the first single from their fifth studio album Language. Sex. Violence. Other? and was released on February 28, 2005. It was the first Stereophonics single to reach number 1 on the UK Singles Chart or to chart on the US Modern Rock Tracks...
". The second single from the album was "Superman". However, that song did not repeat the success of "Dakota", peaking at number 13. After "Superman" came "Devil", featuring a controversial video and reaching number 11 in the charts. The album was nominated for a Pop Factory award
The Pop Factory
The Pop Factory is a music and media complex in Porth, Rhondda, South Wales. It has given its name to a Welsh TV show.It was founded by Emyr Afan and his wife Mair Afan....
at the end of the year, losing out to Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
's Pushing the Senses
Pushing the Senses
Pushing the Senses is the fifth album by the British rock band Feeder. It was released on Echo, Liberation Music and PIAS on 31 January 2005 in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, while being released on Pony Canyon in Japan on 10 February 2005...
.
The band played in Vancouver, Canada in April 2005 with opening band The Manvils
The Manvils
The Manvils are a Canadian rock band from Vancouver. The band, consists of singer, songwriter and guitarist Mikey Manville, bassist Greg Buhr and drummer Jay Koenderman....
. Following the concert, Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones is a Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the Sex Pistols, Jones is noted for his strong, gravelly voice, which has been described as "whisky" vocals...
invited Manvils' lead guitarist, fellow Welshman Mark Parry, to join Stereophonics on the road as second guitarist in the band for their world tour. On 2 July 2005, the group appeared at the Live 8
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
concert in Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, playing to their biggest audience yet.
The band were scheduled to support Oasis for a number of dates across Europe, in early 2006, but pulled out due to family commitments. 2006 also saw the release of Stereophonics' first live album, Live from Dakota
Live from Dakota
Live From Dakota is the first live album by Stereophonics. It is a 2-disc compilation featuring 20 tracks spanning the first five of the band's albums and capturing the best of their 2005 world tour...
. The album is a two-disc compilation, featuring twenty tracks spanning all five of the band's albums and capturing the best of their 2005 world tour. Rather than being a recording of a single show, the tour was recorded every night and the band picked out the best version of each song individually. The album also features a track titled "Jayne", later released as part of Kelly Jones' solo album, Only the Names Have Been Changed
Only the Names Have Been Changed
Only the Names Have Been Changed is the solo debut album by Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones.As Jones explains, "we were recording the sixth Stereophonics album...and in-between takes I started doing these songs off the cuff. Three or four tracks in I realised that this could actually be...
.
Pull the Pin
Pull the Pin
Pull the Pin is the sixth studio album by Stereophonics, released in the UK on 15 October 2007. A Stereophonics newsletter released the "Pull the Pin" album artwork to subscribers. The cover was also shown to MySpace users that had added the band in a bulletin...
was released in the UK on 15 October 2007, along with a download-only taster; "Bank Holiday Monday". The track was also available for free to people who pre-ordered tickets for the band's concerts in 2007. The album was written and recorded by November 2006 but held back for release until late 2007. "It Means Nothing" was the first single of the album, released in September before the LP was released a week later on 15 October. The album contains twelve songs and reached number 1 in the UK's official album chart. The next single, "My Friends", reached #32 in the UK charts, their poorest chart performance since "More Life in a Tramps Vest" from their debut album.
On 20 May 2007, at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Preston, the band were joined on stage by Casino frontman Adam Zindani. Zindani continued to tour with the band for the remainder of the Pull the Pin tour, playing lead guitar and backing vocals. He has been credited for writing and performing on two of the band's new tracks, "You're My Star" and "My Own Worst Enemy". On "You're My Star", he sings backing vocals and plays lead guitar. Whereas, on "My Own Worst Enemy", he only plays lead guitar.
Recent years (2008–present)
In November 2008, Stereophonics released a greatest hits compilation, Decade in the Sun: The Best of StereophonicsDecade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics
Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics is a compilation album of greatest hits by Stereophonics. The album debuted at number 2 with sales of 67,073 in the UK...
.
The band are regulars at British summer festivals. Most recently they have played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 and 2009. In 2010 they have appeared at V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
, as well as T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
having already played there in 2008. They also appeared at the Oxegen
Oxegen
Oxegen is an annual music festival in Ireland held since 2004, sponsored by Heineken. As of 2007, 2008, 2009, the festival has been cited as Ireland's biggest music festival. And by 2009, the festival is cited as the greenest festival, being a 100% carbon neutral event in Ireland. It was previously...
in the Republic of Ireland in July 2010.
On 8 December 2009, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games was the non-profit organization responsible for planning, organizing, financing and staging the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics...
announced the line up for performers for the nightly Victory Ceremonies. These ceremonies included 30 minutes of entertainment from the evening's host province/territory, 30 minutes of medal presentations, and a one hour performance by a musical talent. Stereophonics performed their song "I Got Your Number" at this event on 20 February - Yukon Night.
The band's seventh album is titled Keep Calm and Carry On
Keep Calm and Carry On (album)
This deluxe edition of Keep Calm and Carry On, as well as containing the actual album, houses additional pictures and a bonus DVD. The DVD gives a backstage look into the Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics tour, and also footage of the recording process for the album...
and was released on 16 November 2009. They decided on this name after seeing a poster in The White Horse pub in Richmond where they spent a lot of time whilst recording the album. The album's debut single was "Innocent
Innocent (Stereophonics song)
"Innocent" is a single by British rock band Stereophonics which was released on 9 November 2009. It was the first single taken from their seventh studio album, Keep Calm and Carry On, which was released a week later, on 16 November 2009...
". The second single from the album, "Could You Be The One?
Could You Be the One? (Stereophonics song)
"Could You Be The One?" is a single by British rock band Stereophonics which was released on 15th February 2010. It is the second single taken from their seventh studio album, Keep Calm and Carry On. It failed to chart in the UK, their first single to do so.Talking about the track, singer Kelly...
", was released on 15 February 2010. The band embarked on a seven-date tour to support the new album in March 2010 playing at Aberdeen, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and London. with support from Glasgow band Hip Parade
Hip Parade
Hip Parade are a Scottish pop band from Glasgow, who formed in 2008. They are best known for supporting The Stereophonics on their 2010 UK arena tour and appearing on Channel 4's Orange Unsigned Act...
.
On 5 June 2010, Stereophonics played the first-ever gig at the Cardiff City Stadium with Support from unsigned South Wales band '4th Street Traffic' followed by 'Kids In Glass Houses' and 'The Doves'. The concert, known as Summer in the City was played to a sold-out audience of 30,000. Two days later, on 7 June, original drummer Stuart Cable was found dead in his home in Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
having choked on his own vomit after a drinking binge
Binge drinking
Binge drinking or heavy episodic drinking is the modern epithet for drinking alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. It is a kind of purposeful drinking style that is popular in several countries worldwide,...
. He was 40 years old.
On 3 March 2011, Stereophonics announced on their Facebook page that they were working on new music in the studio.
Other projects
On 9 October 2007, a retrospective DVD was released in the United States, Rewind: The First 10 YearsRewind (video)
Rewind is a DVD by Welsh rock trio Stereophonics released in 2007. It contains over three hours of live and documentary footage spanning their entire career; from pre-Stereophonics years to their signing to V2 Records in 1996, to the present day in 2006...
. The DVD is a double disc with a runtime of nearly four hours.
Much of this footage was recorded around the time that the You Gotta Go There to Come Back album was being recorded. This is because a similar band history DVD was listed for release shortly after that album but was never released, due to the departure of Stuart Cable. This explains Kelly's hairstyle (circa 2003/2004) in the interview footage and the appearance of Stuart and the rest of the band freely talking about their togetherness and solidarity as the original three members. The original footage was updated by adding further footage to the end, bringing it up to date with the band's fifth album. Stuart does not appear on any of the extra footage.
Availability coincides with the US re-release of the Language.Sex.Violence.Other? DVD, and the worldwide digital debut of their latest studio album, Pull the Pin
Pull the Pin
Pull the Pin is the sixth studio album by Stereophonics, released in the UK on 15 October 2007. A Stereophonics newsletter released the "Pull the Pin" album artwork to subscribers. The cover was also shown to MySpace users that had added the band in a bulletin...
.
In 2007, lead singer Kelly Jones released a solo album, titled Only the Names Have Been Changed
Only the Names Have Been Changed
Only the Names Have Been Changed is the solo debut album by Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones.As Jones explains, "we were recording the sixth Stereophonics album...and in-between takes I started doing these songs off the cuff. Three or four tracks in I realised that this could actually be...
, while recording the band's sixth studio album, Pull the Pin. The album contains ten tracks (all named after women) and features minimal instrumentation. The album also includes the song "Jayne", a previously unreleased Stereophonics track featured on the live album Live from Dakota
Live from Dakota
Live From Dakota is the first live album by Stereophonics. It is a 2-disc compilation featuring 20 tracks spanning the first five of the band's albums and capturing the best of their 2005 world tour...
and the Rewind DVD.
Guitarist Adam Zindani has continued to work with his own band, Casino, since working with the Stereophonics. Casino's first album, 'The SpiderSimpson Incident' was released in December 2008 and an agreement was reached to have the album available to purchase at Stereophonics' live shows across the UK, that month. Also, Adam is speculated to be working alongside Mel Gibson (of Gibson Guitars) to build a cross between a Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
and a banjo which will be called a Les Banjo.
Stereophonics also performed the original opening theme tune for the TV series Long Way Round
Long Way Round
Long Way Round is a documentary television series, DVD set and book documenting the journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from London to New York on motorcycles...
. The song's lyrics were slightly altered for the follow-up series, Long Way Down
Long Way Down
"Long Way Down" is a single by the Goo Goo Dolls from their breakthrough album, 1995's A Boy Named Goo. This song is often overshadowed by the low-key ballad "Name", which launched the band to household names...
.
Javier's projects
Drummer Javier Weyler released a solo album, titled Lagrima, in 2007, under the name Capitan Melao. "Lagrima" is the name of a composition by art-rock guitarist Phil Manzanera that appears on the album 801 Live, with Brian Eno and others. In Spanish, the word "Capitan" means "captain", while "Melao" is a Latin American slang word for swing, rhythm or soul. Javier announced, in mid-February, that he was working back on his own project, as the band stopped touring.Band members
Current members- Kelly JonesKelly JonesKelly Jones is a Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist and the lead singer of the band Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the Sex Pistols, Jones is noted for his strong, gravelly voice, which has been described as "whisky" vocals...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (since 1992) - Richard JonesRichard Jones (Stereophonics)Richard Jones is the bassist and backing vocalist for the Welsh rock band Stereophonics, playing alongside Kelly Jones and Javier Weyler. Jones grew up in Cwmaman, an old mining village in South Wales...
– bass guitar, vocals, harmonica, piano (since 1992) - Javier WeylerJavier WeylerJavier Andrés Weyler is the drummer for the Welsh based rock group Stereophonics. Despite being born in Argentina, Weyler lived most of his life in Caracas, Venezuela, and now resides in London, England...
– drums, percussion (since 2004) - Adam ZindaniAdam ZindaniAdam Zindani is the guitarist for the Welsh based rock group Stereophonics, and the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Birmingham based band, Casino.-Casino:...
– lead guitar, vocals (since 2007)
Previous members
- Stuart CableStuart CableStuart Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.- Early life :...
– drums, percussion, backing vocals (1992–2003)
Touring musicians
- Tony KirkhamTony KirkhamTony Kirkham is the head of the Arboretum at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he had worked since 1978. Tony started his life as an apprentice at Tilhill Forestry Nursery in Frensham in 1974. In 1976 he attended Merrist Wood Agricuktural College where he gained his NCH in Arboriculture and the RFS...
– keyboards (since 1999) - Scott James – guitar (2001–2004)
- Aileen McLaughlin – backing vocals (2002–2003)
- Anna Ross – backing vocals (2002–2003)
- Steve GormanSteve GormanSteve Gorman is a musician best known as the drummer of the American hard rock band The Black Crowes. He also spent some time as the drummer for British rock band Stereophonics.- Early career :...
– drums, percussion (2003–2004) (full-time member of The Black CrowesThe Black CrowesThe Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
)
Discography
- Word Gets AroundWord Gets Around2-disc Deluxe EditionCD 1# Carrot Cake and Wine # Tie Me Up Tie Me Down # Poppy Day # Raymond's Shop # Chris Chambers...
(1997) - Performance and CocktailsPerformance and CocktailsPerformance and Cocktails is Stereophonics' second album. It was released by V2 on 8 March 1999. The album was sponsored by Fender guitars which were used by the band on the album. All three members of the band were given equal credit for writing all the songs on this album...
(1999) - Just Enough Education to PerformJust Enough Education to PerformJust Enough Education to Perform, also known by its acronym J.E.E.P., is the third studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics. Released on 17 April 2001, the album topped the UK Albums Chart with 140,000 copies sold. and spawned three top-ten singles in the form of "Mr. Writer", "Have a Nice...
(2001) - You Gotta Go There to Come BackYou Gotta Go There to Come BackYou Gotta Go There to Come Back is Stereophonics' fourth album, released on V2 in 2003. It became their third consecutive album to top the UK chart selling 101,946 copies in its first week. It was the final Stereophonics album with long-time original drummer Stuart Cable.The album shows a newly...
(2003) - Language. Sex. Violence. Other?Language. Sex. Violence. Other?Language. Sex. Violence. Other? is the fifth studio album by Stereophonics, released March 14, 2005 . It received critical acclaim in the British music press, who had been hostile to the band in recent years, and notably the NME, whose reviews of the band's previous two albums had been harsh...
(2005) - Pull the PinPull the PinPull the Pin is the sixth studio album by Stereophonics, released in the UK on 15 October 2007. A Stereophonics newsletter released the "Pull the Pin" album artwork to subscribers. The cover was also shown to MySpace users that had added the band in a bulletin...
(2007) - Keep Calm and Carry OnKeep Calm and Carry On (album)This deluxe edition of Keep Calm and Carry On, as well as containing the actual album, houses additional pictures and a bonus DVD. The DVD gives a backstage look into the Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics tour, and also footage of the recording process for the album...
(2009)