Kelly Jones, singer guitarist
The Stereophonic's singer, guitarist and songwriter!
Kelly (born 3 June 1974) is a Welsh born and bred singer, songwriter and lead guitarist with the Stereophonics. Influenced by classic rock bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC (Mmm, seems to like Gibson SG guitars like Angus Young plays) and punk rockers too. He is noted for his strong but grainy voice. Kelly's song lyrics seem to show influences from many British artists as well as American mega stars such as Neil Young and arguably Bob Dylan.
Kelly lived in a small village, Cwmaman which is a former coal mining pit village near Aberdare in South Wales. He became friends Stuart Cable and Richard Jones forming a 'three piece' covers band together. His talent for writing evident he apprently considered being a scriptwriter rather than a song writer and studied film at college.
His interest in music had developed so strongly that even though he had interest from the BBC in some of his early work he prefered to write original material for the band. It turned into a grate way to use his narrative talents within song lyrics.
Kelly also tried boxing as a career and did quite well at youth level. The Stereophonics debut album has much of his early experiences documented in song, including his account of market stalls in his teens. Listen to 'More Life in a Tramps Vest' from their first album 'Word Gets Around' (released in 1997).