Welsh rockers Stereophonics head to the North East this month so Lee Allcock caught up with frontman Kelly Jones to speak about the first song he ever wrote, growing up in Wales, and having his first hit record.
What was it like growing up in a small ex-mining village in Wales?
I enjoyed my childhood there: it was one road in and one road out and there were a lot of characters in the village. It was very green and we were surrounded by mountains which became our playground really so I loved it.
What was the first song you ever wrote and where did you write it?
I think it was ‘Local Boy in the Photograph’. I was about 17/18 sitting on the bedroom floor in my brother’s house; my brother was doing some weight training and a friend of mine told me that another friend of ours who we played football with had stepped in front of a train. It was a very bizarre moment for somebody in our area at the time so the song was very much a celebration of his life.
And at that time, did you ever feel that you’d release a hit record?
I didn’t think we’d ever make a hit record. I mean, it was something that made me go to a band rehearsal every Thursday and Sunday from the age of about 12 up until the point where we were signed when I was about 21/22 and the band always drove me on. It was my outlet: I felt like I had something to say but I didn’t really know what that was, and probably still don’t in many ways (laughing), but it just kind of channels through me.
And what does it feel like to now have six no.1 albums?
It’s a nice thing to have achieved because you work hard when you’re making a record, but the reality is that when I’m writing songs and I’m writing them in my house or tour bus or hotel or wherever I might be, at the time I’m writing them it’s just some sort of subconscious situation that I’m in and it just kind of comes out of me. So at the time it’s very personal to me, and every song I’ve written I’ve felt strongly about, and I’ve never been trying to write a hit. Everything I’ve written I’ve believed in and when they become successful, and they become a no.1 record, it’s a lovely feeling because the songs have come from a very honest place within me – and if somebody relates to that, that’s kind of what it’s for.
Stereophonics head to Hit the North in Newcastle on Sunday 26th May where they’ll be supported by the likes of Johnny Marr, Lewis Capaldi, Yonaka, Marsicans, Plaza, Cattle & Cane, SWEARS and more. Tickets, priced at £53.90 (including booking fee), are available from thisistomorrow.ticketline.com. For further information about This is Tomorrow, which also sees Foals and Noel Gallagher make their way to Newcastle, head to thisistomorrow.co.uk.
