Gruff Rhys is a member of the Super Furry Animals who were at the forefront of the wave of great Welsh bands which broke through into the mainstream music scene in the 1990s.
After playing drums for the band Emily, Gruff Rhys found fame in Wales as the frontman of Ffa Coffi Pawb. Translated, the name means 'everyone's coffee beans', though if said quickly in Welsh, it can sound like something quite different!
On signing to Ankstmusik, Ffa Coffi Pawb became one of the leading bands on the Welsh music scene, and released three albums - Clymhalio, Dalec Peilon and Hei Vidal!
When the group disbanded in 1993, Gruff and drummer Dafydd Ieuan, of Rhoscefnhir, formed the basis of the Super Furry Animals. The final line-up now consists of Gruff on vocals, Dafydd on drums, Cian Ciaran, Daf's brother, on keyboards, Huw Bunf Bunford on guitar and Guto Price on bass.
In 1995 they signed to Creation Records. Apparently, when offering them the deal after a gig, Alan McGee, head of Creation, asked that they sing more songs in English.
Gruff pointed out that all the songs that night had been in English! The Super Furries went on to release of their critically-acclaimed first album, Fuzzy Logic, in 1996 - the first time Gruff had recorded songs 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 in 1997, Guerrilla in 1999 and Mwng, a Welsh-language CD, in 2000. They also became particularly famous for their 40 foot inflatable bears and the SFA blue tank, which toured summer festivals playing techno music at high volume. Also, if anyone owns a copy of the The Man single, hang on to it. There are very few in circulation as the single was deleted on its day of release.
The Super Furries made a further mark on history in July 2001, when they released their latest album, Rings Around the World, on CD and DVD simultaneously.
Aside from the SFA, Gruff has released two solo albums, Atal Genhedlaeth and Candylion, and does occasional solo performances in small theatres across Wales.
He is also involved in Neon Neon, his project with LA-based musician
Bryan Hollon, aka Boom Bip. They've released their first album, Stainless Style.
But Gruff hasn't abandoned the SFA, who released their latest album, Dark Days/Light Years, in March 2009.
Lead singer with Super Furry Animals.
