It’s remarkable to realise that 2016 will mark 20 years since Stereophonics first broke out of Cwmaman, the tiny South Wales village, home to just 1,000 people.
With quick wit and an underdog's verve, the band struck gold early with 1997's humble debut album Word Gets Around, painting gritty grass roots tales of rural life with songs such as A Thousand Trees and Local Boy in the Photograph.
Stereophonics went widescreen on 1999's Performance and Cocktails – their bestseller to date, propped up by UK top 5 hits The Bartender and the Thief, Just Looking and Pick a Part That's New.
Things went a little middle-of-the-road from here, scoring subsequent top fives with Mr Writer and Have a Nice Day (from 2001's Just Enough Education to Perform), and Madame Helga and Maybe Tomorrow (from 2003's You Gotta Go There to Come Back).
Frontman and songwriter Kelly Jones turned his amps back up for 2005's Language. Sex. Violence. Other?, nailing the band's only number one single in Dakota. Expanded to a quartet since 2007, Stereophonics have troubled the charts less in recent years, but continue to churn out increasingly by the numbers LPs.
This year's ninth, Keep the Village Green Alive, marked the band's first number one in eight years (but sixth to date). Bassist Richard Jones remains one of two founding members, standing at Jones's (no relation) side since 1992. We dialled him at a South London rehearsal studio.
It’s almost exactly three years since we had you here last to play Sandance – but it has been a big three years with two new albums and a new drummer.
Yeah, we just like to keep moving forward, sometimes things we’re doing register, and sometimes they don’t. For us nothing really changes, we keep on releasing stuff and going out on the road.
How much do you relate to the young men who made Word Gets Around?
For us, we’ve still got that fire in our bellies and the same goals – we want to get as many people as possible listening. We never rest on our laurels, we never wanted to be a band who relied on one record or one hit. We’ve got so much we want to show people and put on record, I don’t think we’ll ever stop.
Were there ever times you felt different? Not many bands last forever.
For us, I don’t think we had any intention of splitting up. We were great friends before we were in a band and we’re still great friends now.
Wayne Rooney and Cerys Matthews are renowned supporters of yours — who’s your favourite celebrity fan?
Funnily enough me and Kelly went to the England versus Wales rugby match, and we were two rows in front of Prince Harry. We were trying to take a selfie to put on Twitter and Prince Harry offered to take a picture for us – in our eyes that makes him a fan.
Remember much of your last Dubai gig?
The only thing I can remember from it was that it was extremely hot and we were melting onstage.
It’s the same time of year ...
I’ll bring my string vest, then.
rgarratt@thenational.ae
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Fixtures
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
NBA FINALS SO FAR
(Toronto lead 3-2 in best-of-seven series)
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
Game 5 Raptors 105 Warriors 106
Game 6 Thursday, at Oakland
Game 7 Sunday, at Toronto (if needed)
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
