Gruff Rhys

by Chris True Best known for his tenure in the hard-to-peg-down Welsh outfit Super Furry Animals, Gruff Rhys has a long history in British rock. Born in 1970, Rhys played in Creation Records' Emily as well as Ffa Coffi Pawb, but his first foray into the musical arts was at the ripe age of five, when he wrote an odd little number about a train driver who's contemplating his own death. In 1990, a chance meeting helped lead to the development of what would become Super Furry Animals. First a left-field techno group, then later a whacked-out guitar group, SFA got much of its character and respect from Rhys' outlandish and obscure lyrical slants. After many critically acclaimed singles and full-lengths, Rhys released his solo outing Yr Atal Genhedlaeth in 2005. And in true Gruff Rhys form, it was an entirely Welsh affair. He followed up the release with a small sampling of dates in his native homeland. WhenSuper Furry Animals moved to Rough Trade, the label also picked up Rhys' solo work and released his second album, Candylion, early in 2007. The album was released by Team Love in the U.S. shortly afterward.