Stereophonics have reflected on their successful career as they rock the headline act at the iconic Isle of Wight Festival – but admit there was one thing they wished they realised sooner
They might be headlining festivals but Stereophonics wasted years believing they weren’t worthy. The Welsh rockers top the bill of Isle Of Wight Festival tonight and yet they are only now able to appreciate the fruits of their success.
Frontman Kelly Jones mused: “I wish we had believed in ourselves much earlier, to be completely honest. You always tend to lack confidence when you come from a small town. Even more so when you’ve been told for years not to pretend to be something you’re not.
“For a long time, I would go on stage thinking that the people in front of me didn’t really like the band. It took me a while to admit and accept that they were there for us!”
Things are different for Stereophonics now, in part, thanks to streaming and a lot more people knowing their music.
He explained: “I find that audiences all over the world are pretty enthusiastic now because they’ve got access to the catalogue and it makes it a little more freeing to go through 13 albums to pick and choose songs because you know people can just find them.
“There were years and years and years where you’d be playing a gig and there’d be a record shop across the street and your record wouldn’t even be on the shelf.”
The band promises punters will Have A Nice Day at IOW: “It’s going to be a good night out and people are going to go away singing and feeling better than they did coming, that’s the whole point, really.”
Incredibly it’s also 15 years since they lost founding member and drummer Stuart Cable, but the band never forget him: “He’s remembered every night on stage… he’s in those songs.”
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
