Stereophonics

Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band from Cwmaman, in the Cynon Valley, Wales, active since 1996. Their line-up includes Kelly Jones on lead vocals, lead guitar and keyboards, Richard Jones on bass guitar, harmonica and backing vocals, Adam Zindani on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, and Jamie Morrison on drums and percussion. The group also includes touring keyboard player Tony Kirkham. Former members include Stuart Cable, who plays drums from 1992 to 2003, and Javier Weyler, who plays drums from 2004 to 2012.

The band’s sound spans acoustic rock, alternative rock, britpop, indie rock, pop rock and post-britpop. They are part of the Cardiff music scene and are known for a style often associated with alternative and traditional British rock. They release a series of studio albums that includes twelve records in total, with eight reaching number one in the UK.

Albums and singles

Their debut album, Word Gets Around, arrives in 1997 and reaches number six in the UK album chart, helped by the singles “Local Boy in the Photograph”, “More Life in a Tramps Vest” and “A Thousand Trees”. Performance and Cocktails follows in 1999 and brings them wider mainstream success, with promotional singles including “The Bartender and the Thief”, “Just Looking” and “Pick a Part That's New”.

Across their career, Stereophonics have ten top-ten singles and one UK number one single, “Dakota”, which comes out in 2005. Their compilation album Decade in the Sun charts at number two in the UK. After Pull the Pin, they achieve five consecutive UK number one albums.

Live reputation

Stereophonics are also known for live shows that lead to headline slots at major UK and Ireland festivals, including Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, V Festival, the Isle of Wight Festival, Oxegen, Tramlines Festival, TRNSMT and Latitude.

They sell around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, making them one of the most commercially successful Welsh rock acts.