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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 peopl ...
musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author. He performs solo and with several bands, including Super Furry Animals, which obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He formed the electro-pop outfit Neon Neon with Boom Bip. Their album ''
Stainless Style ''Stainless Style'' is the debut album from Neon Neon—a project from Super Furry Animals front man Gruff Rhys and electronic artist Boom Bip—which was released in March 2008 via Lex Records. The album was streamed in its entirety on the band ...
'' was nominated for the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize. He won the 2011 Welsh Music Prize for his album '' Hotel Shampoo'', which was followed up by '' American Interior'' 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 ...
. His most recent album, ''Seeking New Gods'', was released in 2021. He is considered a figurehead of the era known as Cool Cymru.


Early life

Rhys was born 18 July 1970 in Haverfordwest,
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 (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, Bethesda,
Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the North West Wales, north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County B ...
,
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.


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 Ffa Coffi Pawb (Welsh: "Everybody's Coffee Beans", phonetically Welsh: "Fuck Off, Everyone" ) was a band signed to Welsh music label, Ankst, active from 1986 to 1992. The band was made up of singer and guitarist Gruff Rhys (later of Super Furry A ...
. 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 Ankstmusik, Ffa Coffi Pawb became one of the leading bands on the Welsh music scene during the Cool Cymru 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 ...
, of Rhoscefnhir,
Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a Local government in Wales, principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strai ...
, 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 (formerly of WWZZ) on keyboards, Huw Bunford (formerly of U-Thant) on guitar and Guto Pryce 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 label, they signed to Creation Records. 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, ...
, 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 Fuzzy logic is a form of many-valued logic in which the truth value of variables may be any real number between 0 and 1. It is employed to handle the concept of partial truth, where the truth value may range between completely true and complet ...
'', 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'' 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'' performed poorly commercially and Super Furry Animals agreed to leave Sony. They are presently signed to
Rough Trade Rough Trade may refer to: *Rough Trade Records, a record label * Rough Trade (shops), London record stores *Rough Trade (band), a Canadian new wave rock band * "Rough Trade" (''American Dad!''), an episode of ''American Dad!'' *Rough trade (slang), ...
and released '' Hey Venus!'' 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 ''Yr Atal Genhedlaeth'' is the debut solo album by Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys. Entirely in the Welsh language, the title of the album and many of the songs are plays on words and puns that might not be obvious even to a Welsh-speaker ...
'', 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'', 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'', 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 App, Apps or APP may refer to: Computing * Application software * Mobile app, software designed to run on smartphones and other mobile devices * Web application or web app, software designed to run inside a web browser * Adjusted Peak Performan ...
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 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 Stephen Black, better known by his stage name Sweet Baboo, is a Welsh musician. Before becoming a solo artist, he played with the band JT MOuse. Alongside his solo work, he has also played with many other artists, including Gruff Rhys, Cate Le B ...
, Emma Daman Thomas and Kliph Scurlock. The show also included actors Remy Beasley, Matthew Bulgo, Dyfan Dwyfor, 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 ...
ahead of the EU Referendum 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 under the collective moniker Neon Neon. Their album, titled ''
Stainless Style ''Stainless Style'' is the debut album from Neon Neon—a project from Super Furry Animals front man Gruff Rhys and electronic artist Boom Bip—which was released in March 2008 via Lex Records. The album was streamed in its entirety on the band ...
'', is a loose concept album based on the tumultuous life of DeLorean Motor Company founder John DeLorean, 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 Fabrizio Moretti (born June 2, 1980) is a Brazilian-American musician and visual artist best known as the drummer for American rock band The Strokes, with whom he has released six studio albums since 2001. A collaborative artist, he has been ...
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 ...
, Har Mar Superstar, Yo Majesty,
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 ...
, Cate Le Bon and The Magic Numbers. 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.


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). ...
album '' Rock Action'' as well as guesting on the songs "Fear of Guitars" (from the album ''
Machine Says Yes ''Machine Says Yes'' is an album by British electronic music duo FC Kahuna, released in April 2002 on the label City Rockers. The album includes five singles: "Mind Set to Cycle", "Glitterball", "Machine Says Yes", "Hayling", and "Nothing is Wrong ...
'' by FC Kahuna) and "Do's and Don'ts" (by Boom Bip) as well as "Just War" from
Danger Mouse Danger Mouse may refer (or appear in) to: * ''Danger Mouse'' (1981 TV series), a 1981 British animated television series * ''Danger Mouse'' (2015 TV series), a 2015 reboot of the British animated television series * Danger Mouse (musician) (born ...
and Sparklehorse's album '' Dark Night of the Soul''. 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 Newp ...
. He features on the track "Cream Dream" from the 2009 Simian Mobile Disco album '' Temporary Pleasure''. He also eats carrots on the Misty's Big Adventure 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''. 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 De La Soul () is an American hip hop trio formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternat ...
on a
Gorillaz Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (character), 2-D (Singing, vocals, Musical keyboard, keyboards), Murd ...
track titled ''
Superfast Jellyfish "Superfast Jellyfish" is the second single released from British alternative band Gorillaz' third studio album, ''Plastic Beach''. The single was released on 9 May 2010. Background The song features vocals from Gruff Rhys, lead singer of Super ...
''. 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 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''. 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 ...
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 and
Android Android may refer to: Science and technology * Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), Google's mobile operating system ** Bugdroid, a Google mascot sometimes referred to ...
game ''
Whale Trail ''Whale Trail'' is a mobile game developed by British software company Ustwo and released in October 2011. The game follows Willow the Whale as he flies through the sky, trying to get away from Baron von Barry, the squid-like antagonist. ''Whale T ...
'' which has been an iTunes game of the week.


Political music

In 2016 Rhys composed and sang "I Love EU" to support the
Remain Remain may refer to: * ''Remain'' (José González EP) * ''Remain'' (KNK EP) *''Remain'', poetry book by Jennifer Murphy, 2005 *''Remain'', album by Tyrone Wells, 2009 *''Remain'', album by Great Divide, 2002 *''Remain'', album by Them Are Us Too ...
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 wi ...
'' about
Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems " Do not go gentle into that good night" and " And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Unde ...
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). Woo ...
. 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 and Sybridion) on piano, with strings arranged by Gruff Ab Arwel ( Y Niwl). 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 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 libre ...
''2117/Hedd Wyn'', with music by the composer
Stephen McNeff Stephen McNeff (born 6 September 1951) is an Irish composer, best known for his work in contemporary theatre and opera. Biography Stephen McNeff was born in Belfast and grew up in south Wales. He studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music ...
. The story is inspired by the life of the Welsh poet Hedd Wyn; 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. of the League of Wales. 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. 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 peopl ...
: ''Camgymeriad Gwych'') (2000) - appearance with Super Furry Animals * '' 9 Songs'' (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 website

Super 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