Gruffudd Maredudd Bowen Rhys (; born 18 July 1970)
is a
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author. He performs solo and with several bands, including
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band formed in Cardiff in 1993. For the duration of their professional career, the band consisted of Gruff Rhys (lead vocals, guitar), Huw Bunford (lead guitar, vocals), Guto Pryce (bass guitar), Cian Ciaran ...
, which obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He formed the electro-pop outfit
Neon Neon
Neon Neon is a collaborative project from producer Boom Bip and Gruff Rhys, the frontman for the Welsh rock band Super Furry Animals. They began work on the project in October 2006 originally under the moniker Delorean. In March 2008 the duo, by ...
with
Boom Bip
Bryan Charles Hollon (born June 22, 1974), better known by his stage name Boom Bip, is an American record producer and musician. He is one half of Neon Neon along with Gruff Rhys. He is based in Los Angeles, California.
Biography
Boom Bip star ...
. Their album ''
Stainless Style'' was nominated for the
2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize. He won the 2011
Welsh Music Prize
The Welsh Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from Wales, as voted for by members of the music industry. It was founded by music promoter John Rostron and radio presenter Huw Stephens in 2011. It was originally schedul ...
for his album ''
Hotel Shampoo
''Hotel Shampoo'' is the third solo album by Welsh musician and Super Furry Animals front-man Gruff Rhys. It was released on 14 February 2011 through Onvi Records/Turnstile (in the UK) and Wichita (in the US) and peaked at number forty-two on th ...
'', which was followed up by ''
American Interior
''American Interior'' is the fourth solo album by Gruff Rhys, released on 5 May 2014. It is a concept album based on the life of the explorer John Evans. It peaked at number 24 in the UK.http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/gruff%20rhys/
Tr ...
'' in 2014, accompanied by a film, a book and a
mobile app
A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on d ...
. His most recent album, ''Seeking New Gods'', was released in 2021. He is considered a figurehead of the era known as
Cool Cymru
Cool Cymru ( cy, Cŵl Cymru) was a Welsh cultural movement in music and independent film in the 1990s and 2000s, led by the popularity of bands such as Stereophonics, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia and Super Furry ...
.
Early life
Rhys was born 18 July 1970 in
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest (, ; cy, Hwlffordd ) is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire with a population of 14,596 in 2011. It is also a community, being the second most populous community in the county, ...
,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
.
He has a brother and a sister; his father was
Ioan Bowen Rees
Ioan Bowen Rees (13 January 1929 – 4 May 1999) was a Welsh poet, mountaineer and political activist.
Born in Dolgellau, Rees studied at the grammar school, then at Bootham School in York. He won a scholarship to Queen's College, Oxford, befo ...
(13 January 1929 – 4 May 1999), a "poet, essayist, polemicist, mountaineer, internationalist ... and a White Robe Druid of the Gorsedd of Bards".
Bowen Rees "campaigned all his life for Welsh rights, language and culture" although he did not believe in the narrow view of nationalism, glorifying one country over another, rather that the "battle for Wales is the battle for all small nations, all small communities, all individuals in the age of genocide".
Rhys's mother, Margaret Wynn Meredith, shared his father's love of writing and was a poet.
Rhys was educated at
Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen
Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen ("Ogwen Valley School") is a bilingual secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 19 years. It is situated in Bethesda in the Ogwen valley in Gwynedd, Wales. As of 2022, there were 454 pupils on roll at the school. Some of the b ...
,
Bethesda,
Gwynedd
Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...
,
North Wales
North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...
and was awarded a degree in art at
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is located in the centre of Manchester, England. The university has over 40,000 students and over 4,000 members of staff. It is home to four faculties (Arts and Humanities, Business and Law, Health and Educat ...
.
Musical career
Ffa Coffi Pawb
As a teenager in 1985, Gruff Rhys played drums for the North Wales band, Machlud, appearing at the Pesda Roc festival in Bethesda. After playing drums for the band Emily, Rhys found fame in Wales as the front man of
Ffa Coffi Pawb. Translated, the name means 'everyone's coffee beans', though if said quickly in Welsh, it can sound like 'fuck off everyone' in English and Welsh combined.
On signing to
Ankst
Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams. After a handful of low key cassette releases, the label relocated to Cardiff and became a ...
musik, Ffa Coffi Pawb became one of the leading bands on the Welsh music scene during the
Cool Cymru
Cool Cymru ( cy, Cŵl Cymru) was a Welsh cultural movement in music and independent film in the 1990s and 2000s, led by the popularity of bands such as Stereophonics, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia and Super Furry ...
movement, and released three albums – ''Clymhalio'', ''Dalec Peilon'' and ''Hei Vidal!''.
Rhys plays the guitar in an unusual style. Although he is right-handed, he learned to play left-handed on his brother's left-handed guitar. Once his brother left home, Rhys only had access to a right-handed guitar. As he had already learned to play left-handed, and rather than invert the nut and re-string it, he taught himself to play the right-handed guitar upside down so the bass strings are on the bottom. Today, Rhys still plays left-handed on an upside down right-handed guitar.
Super Furry Animals
When Ffa Coffi Pawb disbanded in 1993, Rhys and drummer
Dafydd Ieuan
Dafydd Ieuan (born 1 March 1969) is a Welsh musician and producer, best known as the drummer with the band Super Furry Animals, The Peth and The Earth (band).
Ieuan played with Gruff Rhys in their early band Ffa Coffi Pawb. He was a drummer f ...
, of Rhoscefnhir,
Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...
, who had played for
Catatonia
Catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric behavioral syndrome that is characterized by abnormal movements, immobility, abnormal behaviors, and withdrawal. The onset of catatonia can be acute or subtle and symptoms can wax, wane, or change during ...
,
Anhrefn
Yr Anhrefn, also known simply as Anhrefn, were an influential Welsh punk rock group of the 1980s and 1990s.
History
Anhrefn (Welsh for "Disorder") were an influential punk rock band from Bangor, North Wales and formed in 1982,Hill, Sarah (200 ...
, Hanner Pei and many other Welsh language bands, formed the basis of Super Furry Animals. They soon settled on a line-up consisting of Rhys on vocals and guitar, Ieuan on drums, his brother
Cian Ciaran
Cian Ciarán (born 16 June 1976) is a Welsh musician best known as the keyboard player in the band Super Furry Animals. In addition to keyboards, he plays guitar and drums and sings, and is a songwriter, composer and producer.
Career
Cian was b ...
(formerly of WWZZ) on keyboards,
Huw Bunford
Huw "Bunf" Bunford (born Huw Cennydd Bunford; 15 September 1967 in Cardiff, Wales) is a musician best known as the guitarist in Super Furry Animals.
Biography
Bunford studied at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University) and worked as a te ...
(formerly of U-Thant) on guitar and
Guto Pryce
Guto Dafydd Pryce ( Welsh pronunciation: ; born 4 September 1972) is a Welsh musician best known as bass guitar player and songwriter in the band Super Furry Animals.
With them he has recorded nine UK Albums Chart Top 25 studio albums, plus num ...
on bass. This line-up has remained constant to the present day, although the role of each member has become more flexible, particularly in the studio.
In 1995, following a couple of largely Welsh-language EPs on the
Ankst
Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams. After a handful of low key cassette releases, the label relocated to Cardiff and became a ...
label, they signed to
Creation Records
Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although ...
. Apparently, when offering them the deal after a gig,
Alan McGee
Alan John McGee (born 29 September 1960) is a Scottish businessman and music industry executive. He has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for ''The Guardian''. He co-founded the independent Creation Records label, r ...
, head of Creation, asked that they sing more songs in English. Rhys pointed out that all the songs that night had been in English. Super Furry Animals went on to release their critically acclaimed first album, ''
Fuzzy Logic'', in 1996 – the first time Rhys had recorded in English. He later observed that his singing sounded like a random collection of accents – but it was nevertheless very successful.
Follow-up albums included ''
Radiator
Radiators are heat exchangers used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics.
A radiator is always a ...
'' in 1997, ''
Guerrilla'' in 1999 and ''
Mwng
''Mwng'' (; English: ''Mane'') is the fourth studio album by Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals, and the first by the group to have lyrics written entirely in the Welsh language. ''Mwng'' was released on 15 May 2000 on the band's own record l ...
'' in 2000. They also became particularly famous for their 40-foot inflatable bears and a blue tank with 'SFA' written upon it which toured summer festivals playing techno music at high volume. Super Furry Animals made a further mark on history in July 2001, when they released their first album for the Sony label, ''
Rings Around the World'', on CD and DVD simultaneously. They repeated this for 2003's ''
Phantom Power
Phantom power, in the context of professional audio equipment, is DC electric power transmitted through microphone cables to operate microphones that contain active electronic circuitry.
It is best known as a convenient power source for con ...
''. Unfortunately 2005's ''
Love Kraft
''Love Kraft'' is the seventh studio album by Welsh indie rock band Super Furry Animals, released on 22 August 2005 through Epic Records in the United Kingdom. The album was recorded in Spain with producer Mario Caldato Jr and was something of ...
'' performed poorly commercially and Super Furry Animals agreed to leave Sony. They are presently signed to
Rough Trade and released ''
Hey Venus!
''Hey Venus!'' is the eighth album by Welsh band Super Furry Animals. It was released on 27 August 2007 in the United Kingdom. ''Hey Venus!'' is the band's first full-length release on current label Rough Trade Records and, at just over 36 min ...
'' in 2007 in the UK. In 2009 they released their latest record to date, entitled ''
Dark Days/Light Years''.
Solo
On 24 January 2005, Rhys released his first solo album, ''
Yr Atal Genhedlaeth'', on the Placid Casual label. It was a loose, sketchy, all-Welsh-language album, with most of the instruments played by Rhys. A tour of Wales and several festival appearances followed. After Super Furry Animals signed to Rough Trade, the new label agreed to take on his solo works as well, and on 8 January 2007 they released ''
Candylion
''Candylion'' is the second solo album by Welsh musician and Super Furry Animals front-man Gruff Rhys. It was released on 8 January 2007 through Rough Trade Records (in the UK) and Team Love (in the US) and peaked at number fifty on the UK Albu ...
'', a batch of acoustic pop songs in English, Spanish and Welsh, which Rhys wrote whilst touring ''Love Kraft'' but which didn't fit with the direction of the new Super Furry Animals album. A third solo album by Rhys, ''
Hotel Shampoo
''Hotel Shampoo'' is the third solo album by Welsh musician and Super Furry Animals front-man Gruff Rhys. It was released on 14 February 2011 through Onvi Records/Turnstile (in the UK) and Wichita (in the US) and peaked at number forty-two on th ...
'', was released on 14 February 2011. On 4 March 2011, it was announced that Rhys would be playing at
Glastonbury 2011.
In May 2014, Rhys released his new work, ''American Interior'', a combined project of an album, a film, a hardback book and an
app for mobile devices. The film was co-directed by Dylan Goch, who also worked with Rhys on his previous film, ''Separado!'' (2010).
From December 2015 to January 2016, Rhys fronted a co-production with
National Theatre Wales
National Theatre Wales (NTW) is a theatre company known for its large-scale site-specific productions and its grassroots work with diverse Welsh communities. It is the English-language national theatre of Wales, and refers to Theatr Genedlaet ...
titled "The Insatiable, Inflatable Candylion", featuring songs from ''Candylion'' and several new tracks. The music and lyrics were by Gruff Rhys and the play's text, which included audience participation, by Tim Price. The musicians appearing with Rhys were
Lisa Jên Brown (who also sang on the original album),
Sweet Baboo,
Emma Daman Thomas and
Kliph Scurlock
Clifton Thomas "Kliph" Scurlock (born June 16, 1973) is an American musician. He was the drummer and percussionist for alternative rock band The Flaming Lips from 2002 to 2014.
Early life
Scurlock was born in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Roger W. ...
. The show also included actors Remy Beasley, Matthew Bulgo,
Dyfan Dwyfor
is a Welsh actor, from .
Early life
He attended and before going on to . He graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2007.
Career
He began acting in the drama series on S4C. His first appearance in film was in ("''Age o ...
, Natasha Lewis and Dyfrig Morris.
On 21 April 2016, Rhys released a new song entitled "I Love EU", a song praising the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
ahead of the
EU Referendum
This is a list of referendums related to the European Union, or referendums related to the European Communities, which were predecessors of the European Union. Since 1972, a total of 48 referendums have been held by EU member states, candidate st ...
on 23 June 2016.
Rhys released his fifth album, entitled ''Babelsberg'', on 8 June 2018. A further album, "Pang!", was released on 13 September 2019, produced by South African DJ
Muzi.
Neon Neon
In 2007 Rhys launched a new electro-pop collaborative project with
Boom Bip
Bryan Charles Hollon (born June 22, 1974), better known by his stage name Boom Bip, is an American record producer and musician. He is one half of Neon Neon along with Gruff Rhys. He is based in Los Angeles, California.
Biography
Boom Bip star ...
under the collective moniker
Neon Neon
Neon Neon is a collaborative project from producer Boom Bip and Gruff Rhys, the frontman for the Welsh rock band Super Furry Animals. They began work on the project in October 2006 originally under the moniker Delorean. In March 2008 the duo, by ...
. Their album, titled ''
Stainless Style'', is a loose concept album based on the tumultuous life of
DeLorean Motor Company
The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) was an American automobile manufacturer formed by automobile industry executive John DeLorean in 1975. It is remembered for the one model it produced—the stainless steel DeLorean sports car featuring gull- ...
founder
John DeLorean
John Zachary DeLorean (January 6, 1925 – March 19, 2005) was an American engineer, inventor, and executive in the U.S. automobile industry, widely known for his work at General Motors and as founder of the DeLorean Motor Company.
DeLorean man ...
, and was released on 18 March 2008 via
Lex Records
Lex Records is a British independent record label based in Camden, London, England.
Style
Lex has a varied musical output. Most releases are alternative hip hop, alternative rock or electronic. The label works with a small group of artists. ...
. The album includes a number of high-profile guest appearances from
Fab Moretti of
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American rock band from New York City. Formed in 1998, the band is composed of lead singer and songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio More ...
,
Har Mar Superstar
Sean Tillmann (born February 6, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He has performed and released studio albums as Sean Na Na and as a member of hardcore band Calvin Krime, but is best known for his work under the name Har Mar Super ...
,
Yo Majesty
Yo! Majesty is an American hip hop group consisting of singer Jwl B and rappers Shunda K and Shon B, produced by UK-based electro group HardfeelingsUK.
Yo! Majesty was mentioned as one of the 'Top 11 new bands of 2008' by ''NME'' magazine as ...
,
Spank Rock
Naeem Juwan, better known by his stage name Spank Rock, is an American rapper and songwriter from Baltimore. He rose to fame with his 2006 album ''YoYoYoYoYo'', which was produced by former group member Alex Epton (XXXChange). A harbinger of po ...
,
Cate Le Bon
Cate Le Bon (born Cate Timothy on 4 March 1983) is a Welsh musician and record producer. She sings in both English and Welsh. She has released six solo studio albums, three EPs and a number of singles. Le Bon has toured with artists such as St. ...
and
The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers are an English pop rock band consisting of two brother-and-sister pairs, from Hanwell in west London. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their debut album titled '' The Magic Numbers'' on 13 June 2005. Their follow-up al ...
. The first single, "Raquel", was released on 26 November 2007. The follow-up single "I Lust U", featured fellow Welsh artist Cate Le Bon on vocals. The album was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Prize.
On 29 April 2013, Neon Neon released their second studio album, ''Praxis Makes Perfect'', followed by a limited run of live performances featuring actors from National Theatre Wales. The album and live show are based on the life of
Giangiacomo Feltrinelli
Giangiacomo Feltrinelli (; 19 June 1926 – 14 March 1972) was an influential Italian publisher, businessman, and political activist who was active in the period between the Second World War and Italy's Years of Lead. He founded a vast library o ...
.
Collaborations with other artists
Rhys has occasionally collaborated with other artists, providing vocals for the track "Dial: Revenge" on the
Mogwai
Mogwai () are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drums). Mog ...
album ''
Rock Action'' as well as guesting on the songs "Fear of Guitars" (from the album ''
Machine Says Yes'' by
FC Kahuna
FC Kahuna (also known as FC/Kahuna) was a British DJ and electronic music production duo, consisting of Jon Nowell and Daniel Ormondroyd. The group released only one album, '' Machine Says Yes'', in the spring of 2002. It had a number of singl ...
) and "Do's and Don'ts" (by
Boom Bip
Bryan Charles Hollon (born June 22, 1974), better known by his stage name Boom Bip, is an American record producer and musician. He is one half of Neon Neon along with Gruff Rhys. He is based in Los Angeles, California.
Biography
Boom Bip star ...
) as well as "Just War" from
Danger Mouse and
Sparklehorse's album ''
Dark Night of the Soul
''Dark Night of the Soul'' ( es, La noche oscura del alma) is a poem written by the 16th-century Spanish mystic and poet St. John of the Cross. The author himself did not give any title to his poem, on which he wrote two book-length commentari ...
''. He has also featured on the Myspace remix track "I'm Not Lying" by
Goldie Lookin' Chain
Goldie Lookin Chain are a Welsh comedy hip hop group from Newport, south-east Wales. The group produces humorous, controversial and often explicit songs that satirise hip hop, today's consumer society, the "chav" culture and life in Newpor ...
. He features on the track "Cream Dream" from the 2009
Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco are an English electronic music duo and production team, formed in 2003 by James Ford and Jas Shaw of the band Simian. Musically, they are known for their analogue production. Ford is also known for his production work.
...
album ''
Temporary Pleasure
''Temporary Pleasure'' is the second album by Simian Mobile Disco. It was released in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2009. It was available in LP, CD and deluxe limited edition CD formats.
History
The album was recorded throughout 2008 and 2009 ...
''. He also eats carrots on the
Misty's Big Adventure
Misty's Big Adventure are an English eight-piece band from Birmingham. Their music is an eclectic mix of jazz, lounge, psychedelia, 2 tone, pop and punk.
The band is composed of singer and sole songwriter Grandmaster Gareth (real name Gareth J ...
album ''
Television's People'', continuing the vegetable relay started by
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
on ''
Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.
Among humans, a smile expresses ...
''. Miles Kane has also called for him to produce the next album by his band the Rascals. Rhys also collaborated with influential hip-hop group
De La Soul on a
Gorillaz track titled ''
Superfast Jellyfish''. The track is on the third Gorillaz studio album, ''
Plastic Beach,'' and provided vocals on the song "We Won't be Broke Forever Baby" on
Akira the Don's LP ''The Life Equation.''
In 2010 he released an album with Brazilian artist Tony da Gatorra on Turnstile Music. The album featured both compositions by Tony da Gatorra, who is relatively unknown in his native Brazil, and Gruff Rhys.
On 17 December 2011, Rhys joined
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh Rock music, rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Blackwood in 1986. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Sean Moore (musician ...
on stage during the band's 38 song ''A Night of National Treasures'' one-off live event at the
O2 Arena in London to provide the lead vocals for the song ''
Let Robeson Sing
"Let Robeson Sing" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released in September 2001 by record label Epic as the fourth and final single from their sixth studio album, '' Know Your Enemy''. It reached number 1 ...
''. Introducing Rhys to the stage, lead singer
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield (born 21 February 1969) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. He is known for being the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers.
Biography Early life
B ...
explained that Rhys had been set to perform the song at the band's
2001 performance in Havana, Cuba but circumstances had prevented this from happening.
Documentaries
In 2010, Dylan Goch's film ''
Separado!'' premiered. It is a documentary about Gruff Rhys's trip to
Patagonia
Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and gl ...
to try to locate members of his family whose ancestors had emigrated in Victorian times.
In 2014, the pair co-directed a film about the Welsh explorer
John Evans, ''American Interior''. It was released in cinemas in the UK on 9 May 2014.
Computer game music
In 2011 Rhys composed the music for the successful
iOS
iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...
and
Android game ''
Whale Trail'' which has been an iTunes game of the week.
Political music
In 2016 Rhys composed and sang "I Love EU" to support the
Remain campaign in the
UK European Membership Referendum.
Film scores
In 2014, Rhys composed the film score for ''
Set Fire to the Stars
''Set Fire to the Stars'' is a 2014 Welsh semi-biographical drama film directed by Andy Goddard in his directorial debut. Co-written by Goddard and Celyn Jones, the film stars Elijah Wood as poet John M. Brinnin and Jones as Dylan Thomas with s ...
'' about
Dylan Thomas and starring Celyn Jones and
Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood (born January 28, 1981) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in the ''Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy (2001–2003) and '' The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'' (2012).
Wood ...
. The jazz group he formed to record the music features drummer Chris Walmsley, double-bassist Jim Barr (
Portishead), Gavin Fitzjohn on trumpet and pianist Osian Gwynedd (formerly of
Big Leaves
Big Leaves were a Welsh rock band formed in 1988, originally named Beganifs. They disbanded in 2003, with two members subsequently forming Sibrydion.
History
The band was formed in 1988 as Beganifs by then 11- and 12-year-old school pupils Rhod ...
and Sybridion) on piano, with strings arranged by Gruff Ab Arwel (
Y Niwl
Y Niwl are a surf instrumental band from North Wales, formed in 2009. Its members are Alun Evans (guitar), Llyr Pari (drums), Sion Glyn (bass) and Gruff ab Arwel (organ and guitar). The band's name is pronounced ''Uh Nule'' and means 'The Fog' ...
). Additional string music was recorded by the Elysian Quartet. In September 2015, Rhys won the 2015 BAFTA Cymru award for Original Music for the score.
Opera
Rhys wrote the
libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
for the 2017
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
''2117/Hedd Wyn'', with music by the composer
Stephen McNeff. The story is inspired by the life of the Welsh poet
Hedd Wyn
Hedd Wyn (born Ellis Humphrey Evans, 13 January 188731 July 1917) was a Welsh-language poet who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I. He was posthumously awarded the bard's chair at the 1917 National ...
; set in the year 2117, it imagines a group of schoolchildren in a post-apocalyptic
Trawsfynydd
Trawsfynydd (; Welsh for "across hemountain") is a linear village in Gwynedd, Wales, near Llyn Trawsfynydd reservoir, and adjacent to the A470 north of Bronaber and Dolgellau and 10 km (6 miles) south of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The total com ...
learning about the life and work of the poet. It was recorded by Ty Cerdd Records and released in 2022.
Personal life
He supports
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club ( cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Bangor) are an inactive Welsh football club from the City of Bangor, Gwynedd. They started the 2021–22 season in the Cymru North the second level of the Welsh football league system, but ...
of the
League of Wales
The Cymru Premier, known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons, is the national football league of Wales. It has both professional and semi-professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2 ...
.
He formed ieie Productions with his partner Catryn Ramasut in 2006 to produce film and television projects.
In July 2015, Rhys received an Honorary Fellowship from
Bangor University. Among those also receiving the honor that day was Rhys's cousin, DJ and music promoter
Huw Stephens
Huw Meredydd Stephens (born 25 May 1981) is a Welsh radio and television presenter, currently broadcasting on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 6 Music.
Stephens founded the Sŵn music festival with John Rostron and the yearly s ...
. Their mutual grandfather was president of the Students Union at the university. Rhys is also the cousin of musician
MC Mabon (Gruff Meredith).
Discography
Studio albums
Singles and extended plays
Ffa Coffi Pawb
Super Furry Animals
Neon Neon
Tony da Gatorra vs Gruff Rhys
Bibliography
*Gruff Rhys (2014) ''American Interior: The Quixotic Journey of John Evans, His Search for a Lost Tribe and How, Fuelled by Fantasy and (Possibly) Booze, He Accidentally Annexed a Third of North America'' (Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Books Ltd.)
Filmography
* ''
Beautiful Mistake'' (
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
: ''Camgymeriad Gwych'') (2000) - appearance with Super Furry Animals
* ''
9 Songs
''9 Songs'' is a 2004 British art romantic drama film written and directed by Michael Winterbottom. The film stars Kieran O'Brien and Margo Stilley. The title refers to the nine songs played by eight different rock bands that complement the s ...
'' (2004) – appearance with Super Furry Animals
* ''
Separado!'' (2010)
* ''American Interior'' (2014)
References
External links
ie ie Productions''American Interior''*
Gruff Rhys page on BBC Wales websiteSuper Furry Animals official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhys, Gruff
1970 births
Living people
Welsh-language singers
Welsh male singers
Welsh-speaking musicians
Welsh-language bands
Welsh guitarists
Welsh songwriters
Super Furry Animals members
Team Love Records artists
People from Haverfordwest
People educated at Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen
Rough Trade Records artists
Wichita Recordings artists
Neon Neon members