Cerys Matthews

Catatonia singer turned solo

Born:

11 APR 1969

Place of Birth:

Cardiff

Famous For:

Catatonia singer turned solo

Trivia:

While in primary school she was nicknamed "The Dentist" because she used to extract fellow pupils' milk teeth.

Biography:

The former Catatonia singer is making a solo comeback after taking a break for motherhood.

Cerys was born in Cardiff, but the family moved around frequently.

They settled in Swansea before moving to the Fishguard area where her parents still live today.

Her interest in music developed during school holidays spent with the family in North Pembrokeshire.

There she first picked up an acoustic guitar and began to play Beatles songs and Welsh folk tunes.

Leaving school with A-levels in biology and textiles, Cerys then spent some time studying psychiatric nursing and nannying in Barcelona before returning to school in Fishguard where she gained two extra A-levels.

In the summer of 1992 songwriter Mark Roberts spotted Cerys busking in Cardiff and duly formed the band Catatonia.

They signed to Welsh label Crai and spent years touring the festival circuit and playing low-key gigs.

After critical acclaim for their early singles the band was signed by Warner Music and released the debut album Way Beyond Blue in 1996.

It introduced the wider world to their catchy pop guitar riffs and passion-infused vocals.

After moderate chart success with singles such as Sweet Catatonia, Lost Cat, You've Got A Lot To Answer For, the breakthrough came in 1998.

Mulder and Scully and Road Rage both hit the Top 5, and the band's second album International Velvet went triple platinum.

The band became festival favourites while Cerys was crowned the Queen of Pop and became a cover star for the music press and lad's mags.

However, she seemingly found it hard to handle fame - perhaps indicated by the title of Catatonia's third album Equally Cursed and Blessed in 1999.

It didn't prove as popular as its predecessor and rumours of the band's impending demise began to circulate.

In summer 2001 Cerys pulled out of a tour to promote the band's fourth album Paper Scissors Stone, blaming anxiety and stress.

Despite initial denials, confirmation of Catatonia's split was confirmed in September that year.

While keeping a fairly low profile, Cerys couldn't stay away from the music scene for long, recording the theme tune to Welsh-language children's cartoon Sali Mali.

In 2002 she went to Nashville where she recorded a solo album and fell in love with record producer Seth Riddle.

The couple were married in February 2003 at Rehoboth Chapel near Trefin, Pembrokeshire, in a pretty rock'n'roll style of wedding - the guests were dressed as 1930s gangsters and molls, while the bride arrived on a tractor.

Cerys launched her solo career with the release of a folk and country influenced album Cockahoop in May 2003.

She appeared in a string of live gigs and TV shows to promote the CD while pregnant with her first child, giving birth to daughter Glenys.

Two years later she had a son, Johnny, but her marriage to Seth broke down.

Seemingly wary of fame, Cerys has slowly returned to live performance, and surprisingly hit the headlines with her appearance on the ITV "reality" game show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and subsequent romance with fellow contestant Marc Bannerman.

Moment of Glory:

Stardom as the Queen of Pop in 1998 at the height of Catatonia's fame.

Off the Record:

Drinking and smoking led to health problems and the end of the band.

your comments

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Bryn from The Sofa
Cerys Matthews is brilliant; just wanted to let you know she has a new album coming out sometime in 2009; plus a tour!!I have heard some of the songs on the new album from her recent gigs and they're amazing!!

Biff Miller, Sarasota, Florida, USA
All I know is if Dave Rollins from Old Hickery thinks she has a sweet voice, she has to. You should listen to this Tennessee legend he has a great ear, great voice, plays great music, and knows all the right people in the buisness.

Hannah, Cardiff
She was beautiful at Glastonbury - lovely voice and played a fabulous set.

Carl from Swansea
Met her today, wonderful person, very polite.

James McFarlane, Leicester
I think she is great and she is doing well in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Dave Rollins, Old Hickory, Tennessee, USA
Sweet girl with a voice of many colors.

Sianna, Fochriw nr Bargoed
Just love Cerys Matthews - would love the chance to sing with her one day : )

Tony, Newport
Saw her at the Riverfront in Newport. The girl's a natural. A great performer. She didn't have to sing the old Catatonia hits to woo the audience.

Steve Williams, Bridgend
I've only seen Catatonia once and that was in Margam Park. It was a good night - and the mud wrestlers were not bad either! Also seen Cerys in North Cornelly a couple of times - I think she's got a mate there. Next time you are in the area pop in to the Cornelly Arms on a Friday and give us a number. Cheers.

Allison, Cardiff
I wanna play the guitar like Cerys. I think she lived for a while in Elm Street in Roath and everyone knew her. Good luck Cerys for the future. Much love from the Splott area x

Mike M, Pontypridd
Saw Cerys at the Parc & Dare October, she was excellent and the musicians really great - it was a fantastic night. The Nashville influence overwhelmed the theatre. Whole performance better than expected.

Cath, Rhondda
Cerys Matthews is a goddess - I went to see her in the Parc and Dare in Treorchy. She is still a great entertainer - hope to see more of her.

Catherine from Rhondda
Hi! I went to the Park and Dare gig in Treorchy in October 2006 and it was fab! Cerys is looking better than ever before and her children are so well behaved! If anyone knows of some way I could meet her then let me know!

Lizzy Lochrane from Edinburgh
I was a huge Catatonia fan and I loved Cockahoop, but Never Said Goodbye is Cerys' best yet! Endless Rain is beautiful - I've been listening to it non stop. I loved Soul Love too!

Madiecow - Bristol
Listening to her new album Never Said Goodbye and she's lost nothing - she's as talented as ever and appears to have grown into her voice for a much slicker smooth as well as rough sound. Fantastic album - hope it's a great success.

MazzEee in Ponty
Cerys Matthews is a fanatastic singer and song writer. She is a perfect role model for females every where, not just because she's Welsh but because she's fabulous sweetie. Show your support and buy the new album.

Matteo Ottaviani from Milan
What a voice... What an artist... What a woman... What a personality... I just love her! Where can I find her solo albums?!

caz mixon from usa
I absolutly adore Cerys. Her voice is so sexy and it really makes me envy everyone in Wales because shes' yours...love her..love her...love her...

Rachel Johnson, Worthing
I went to school in Bridgend and was taught welsh by Owen Powell the bassist from Catatonia. I still think they're great ten years on... we were told he left his job due to ill health - six months later he's in Smash Hits with Cerys The Legend! Imagine our shock. Cerys has an amazing voice, hope she doesn't lose her accent in the States.

Carrie Laird from Scotland
Cerys is so cool. When I was a teenager she was my role model. I hope I settle down as happily as she has. I'm so pleased for her that she's happily married and has kids.

Chloe Fitzjohn
She's great. I used to make clothes for her in 1999 and 2000 when we lived across the road from her in Cardiff. She's got a great personality and is a very beautiful woman. I've lost contact with her now so if anyone knows how I can say hello to her please let me know....

sam lloyd from tenby
cerys matthews is a very talented and beautiful person im researching her in a welsh project its going to be quite easy because ive seen her before on her wedding day !! i have some pictures of her with me

Rhianon,Cardiff
I think Cerys Matthews is a great singer and she is very talented

Natalia from Cardiff South Wales
I'm studying Cerys in school and I find her life very interesting!

Francesca Basini from Ebbw Vale
She is great, mad, and an inspiration to all.

Kathryn Wilson from Caerphilly
I think Cerys Matthews is one great artist.

Sianna Jade from Fochriw nr Bargoed
I think Cerys is brill and I hope to get on children's Stars In Yours Eyes performing as her singing 'Dead From The Waist Down'.

Kate Collins from South Wales - living in Derby
I agree that Cerys Matthews is a fabulous artist and certainly someone to make any Welsh female proud to be just that. I saw Catatonia play live many times and was always a huge fan of theirs from the first time I saw them in 1995. This was before I'd ever heard them on the radio. Cerys stood next to me after the performance, holding a pint and wearing a lovely red dress.

Amy Hobbs in Swansea
I think Cerys Matthews is a great artist. She is better than any other female artist that I have ever heard. She has a great Welsh accent. I love her songs espescially the one with Tom Jones - Baby It's Cold Outside.

Jen in Gloucester
Just wanna say that I think Cerys Matthews is an amazing artist and she will be a great mother. She is a truly amazing woman, I am her biggest fan.

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