In the distant past of December 2021, we were looking ahead to Stereophonics’ brace of pre-Christmas mega gigs in Wales’ national stadium, before public health got in the way. Now it’s March and you’ve got a brace of June ‘Phonics shows to look forward to, and new studio album Oochya!… and this interview by Carl Marsh with the band’s frontman Kelly Jones.
With Oochya! you’ve pulled off the feat of making a record that sounds like it could be a best-of Stereophonics compilation – yet they’re all new songs.
Thank you. It’s a record that came about quite accidentally: I just went into the studio to prime a couple of tracks, because I was thinking about putting a 25-year compilation out, and I started working on some stuff that I had knocking about, which I hadn’t used before.
I’ve got loads of songs people have never heard. C’est La Vie was meant to go on [2013 album] Graffiti On The Train, but it went onto the next record [2015’s Keep The Village Alive] because it fitted there. This [new] record’s got a lot of different styles to it. It’s got soulful, rock’n’roll, beautiful, and darker stuff. It’s got a good vibe to it.
“I think art needs an element of mystery. I don’t want people to know the ins and outs of everything.”
Kelly Jones, Stereophonics
Are you tempted to do another greatest hits compilation?
Well, the only reason we talked about it was, I mean, physical records are not really bought anymore anyway, and making compilation records for streaming services is not really ideal for anybody’s business. I wanted to put one out because [previous ‘Phonics best-of] Decade In The Sun was out in 2008. And there’s been a lot of big songs since then such as Indian Summer, C’est La Vie… just a lot of songs that people can only really get online. So, I was trying to compile the second decade, but we’ll get to it – I preferred a new studio album, which is what we have, and I think there are many big songs on it. So, we’ll keep going as long as we can.
This new record is more rock’n’roll than the last one, Kind – Stereophonics are synonymous with those killer riffs, so why did you change it for the previous album?
Kind was more of a country record, a kind of Americana record, and it became more of a delicate, sort of beautiful sound, really. I actually did the rough of [Oochya! lead single] Hanging On Your Hinges on that session, and it clearly wouldn’t have fitted on that album, so that’s why that carried over and went on the next record. It’s a bit like (sports) players on the bench – waiting for the perfect match to play in, then you stick them on the field.
That song sounds to me like a nod to ZZ Top… Running Round My Brain, later on in the album, isn’t far off that either.
Probably, yeah. They were played a lot in my house as a kid. There is a nod to ZZ Top in there for sure.
What’s the title Hanging On Your Hinges referencing?
The song talks about a lot of different things. It’s pretty straightforward what the lyrics are – I don’t think there are many double entendres in there! – but I think the phrase came about when I was in the vocal booth, and I thought someone had said something to the window. I said, “that’s a good line!” and they said “what?” I replied, “hangin’ on your hinges!” They shouted back, “I didn’t fucking say that!” I thought they did!
So I thought, “that’s a great song title,” and wrote it on the notes. And even if he didn’t come up with it, I’ve got it there now! It’s got a ZZ Top vibe, and maybe Iggy Pop and the Stooges.
Another album highlight, Right Place Right Time, could be your most personal song to date.
Yeah, it tells a lot, that story. It’s basically one of those songs about destiny and serendipity and all that kind of stuff – it’s like a pinball thing, you do one thing that leads you to the next thing, then to the next. I mean, that song could have gone on forever. You could write a million things in there, but I selected a few little things.
It was a funny song as it came from nowhere, really. I think it was the same day that I went for my first COVID jab. I was walking up the King’s Road [in London] – I went to one of the galleries down there, looking for some inspiration for the album artwork, and I just wandered around. I then got back, sat in the garden and just wrote it all. I felt like I was stoned – obviously, I wasn’t, I’d just been fucking jabbed! – and all that stuff came out.
Then when I looked back at it the next day, I thought, “that’s pretty good,” and then I got it together with the boys. It’s kind of got a really dreamy vibe to it. There are not many songs where you can talk about three girlfriends in one song; that’s the truth!
About your delayed concerts in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium this June, I think it’s beautiful that you have given an up-and-coming singer called Tom Jones a chance on the bill…
[Laughter] Yeah, he needed a break! We watched the football together in the pandemic as he’d invited me around to his apartment to watch it, and his man-in-the-house would be making us food, snacks and stuff. He’d be shouting at the telly whilst I’d just be watching him more than watching the football as he’s fucking hilarious. He played me a new song, then showed me the photos all over his wall. It was amazing.
I went back that night, and we talked about the Principality Stadium – if we were going to do something to uplift the people after the pandemic, and that to have Tom and us would be amazing. I’ve known him for over 20 years, and he never fails to entertain.
In all seriousness, though, could you ever have imagined 25 years ago that you’d have Tom Jones as your support act?
It is fucking mental, isn’t it? It is crazy. He’s been such a support to us all along anyway.
Even for us to play the Principality Stadium, I never thought we’d do that again. We did it in 2001 and 2003, and we’ve done Cardiff City Stadium a few times, but I didn’t think we’d ever get back to the Principality. And then to do two fucking nights, with no refunds from December. They’ve had to open up more tickets!
This interview is for Buzz, and as such, I was wondering how, over the years, regional press has helped the Stereophonics with their career?
Massively. Massively. I mean, the whole reason we signed to [the band’s 90s and 00s label] V2 in the first place was that they had a regional team set up. They’d have a car in every different county and every other city, we’d get on a train and get off, and there’d be a little Peugeot 306 with one of the people that worked for V2. Some of them are still there today – not working for V2, independently working for us.
We’d do 10 to 15 interviews with universities, colleges, local newspapers, and people like yourself. We avoided the mainstream, and we avoided London. So the fanbase was already there when the band got on the radio, TV and MTV with the second album. And all of a sudden, we were playing arenas by the second album. It was incredible.
Even to this day, you know – I’ve dedicated all of today to all regional press. I’ve done one major at the weekend, but everything else is regional. And all the radio stuff I do is all small, independent, or local BBCs, things like that. It’s always been about the regional thing for us.
We’re a band of people: whether you’re a van driver, a plumber, or a doctor or surgeon, it doesn’t matter. I’ve met so many different people from all walks of life at our gigs. That doesn’t just jump out to you from the front cover of GQ, if you know what I mean. [Regional press] has been a big – massive – help to the band all the way along, and I don’t think the band would have had their rise in the first three years without it all.
I’d like to end by recalling the last time we did an interview: you said that you never did social media because it was “fucking shite”. Is that still the case?
Yeah, I don’t do social media. And I still think it’s fucking shite! I think the band uses it as a tool, and that’s great. But I think an element of mystery needs to be involved in art, and I think with the music I’d rather it do the talking for me. I don’t want people to know the ins and outs of everything.
Stereophonics’ Oochya! is released on Fri 4 Mar via Stylus/Ignition.
Their two Cardiff Principality Stadium dates, originally scheduled for December 2021, will now take place on Fri 17 + Sat 18 June. Support comes from Tom Jones, Catfish & The Bottlemen and Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard. Info: stereophonics.com / principalitystadium.wales
words CARL MARSH
