Here at Singing Lessons Cardiff, we love to inspire our singing students with stories of those bands that have made it into internationally renowned musicians after starting out in Cardiff. The likes of Stereophonics, Feeder and the Manic Street Preachers are just three world-famous bands, not to mention Kids in Glass Houses and Funeral for a Friend, that all started out in Cardiff. To inspire you too, here is a quick bio of Cardiff's most successful bands. Enjoy...
Manic Street Preachers have registered eight Top 10 albums with three number 1 singles during a music career that started right back in 1986. Formed at Oakdale Comprehensive School, Blackwood the band began to rise to fame during the early 90s with Generation Terrorists which sold over 250,000 records. The charged political lyrics met heavy guitar riffs producing a distinct sound that carried over to their second album Gold Against the Soul, released in 1993. After their album The Holy Bible, 1995 Richey Edwards Manic's rhythm guitarist went missing never to return - his car was found by the Seven Bridge 17 days after his disappearance on 1 February 1995. He was declared presumed dead on 28 November 2008 by his family. While the band went on to become one of the most successful rock bands Wales has ever produced Richey Edwards disappearance has always affected the band and its fans - a story comparable to Kurt Cobain's a year earlier.
Stereophonics formed in Cwmaman by guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist Richard Jones and drummer Stuart Cable in early 1992. Originally named the Tragic Love Triangle the band in 1996 the signed to Richard Branson's V2 label changing their name to Stereophonics. Their first studio album, Word Gets Around, made it to number 6 in the UK album chards going Gold and winning them a Brit in 1998. Stereophonics third album Just Enough Education to Perform, with hits, Have a Nice Day and Mr Writer reached number 5 in the UK charts and helped them sell out stadiums around the world. It was their fifth studio album, however, Language. Sex. Violence. Other?, that gave them their first number one single with the track Dakota. Their 2007 release, Pull The Pin, was the bands sixth UK number one album make Stereophonics one of the most successful rock bands of the last 15 years.
Feeder formed in 1994 and originating from Newport grew to become one of the biggest rock acts during the late 90s and early 2000s. Their 1997 debut album, Polythene, was critically acclaimed and won the band a wide audience of post-Nirvana fans which the band based themselves heavily on. Yesterday Went Too Soon, Feeder's 1999 album reached number 8 in the UK album charts building on the success of their first album - they confirmed there status as one of the UK's top rock bands in 2001 with their album Echo Park selling just under 300,000 records. It was their 2002 album Comfort in Sound following the suicide of the band's drummer Jon Lee that really captured rock listeners, the tragic events of 2002 we explored in the bands recording. Selling over half a million records Comfort in Sound is perhaps the bands most moving album. Pushing the Senses, 2005, built on the success of Comfort in Sound and reached number 2 in the UK album chart and was followed by that bands first full arena tour. Since then Feeder has recorded three further albums selling out arenas worldwide ensuring they remain at the top of the rock world.
Kids in Glass Houses gained widespread publicity even as an unsigned band in 2007 originating from Cardiff having supported bands like Lostprophets, Funeral for a Friend and 30 Seconds to Mars. In 2008 Kids in Glass Houses released their debut album, Smart Casual, which sold just under 90,000 records and reached 29 in the UK album charts. With their next two releases reaching 27 in the UK album charts after touring extensively including performances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals 2010 the jury is still out on whether they will break through onto the national stage. Time will tell.
Funeral for a Friend formed in 2001 rose to fame in after the release of their 2003 album Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation which reached number 12 in the UK album charts. After embarking on an extensive European tour supporting bands like Gun N' Roses Funeral for a Friend's second album Hours again reached number 12 in the UK album charts before the band broke into the top 10 with their third release Tales Don't Tell Themselves in 2007. Their heavy guitar riffs mixed with melodic vocal harmonies have created a unique blend of post-hardcore rock - we look forward to hearing the 2013 release Conduit.
