Wales still inspires work of Stereophonics front man

His upbringing in the south Wales valleys continues to inspire the song writing of Stereophonics lead singer Kelly Jones, more than 30 years since the band formed.

Jones, from Cwmaman, Rhondda Cynon Taf, but who now lives in London, said he regularly goes back to Wales, bringing his four children - aged 20, 18, nine and four - with him.

"I take my kids up to the top of the mountains that I grew up in, and you look down on the whole village... I think they'd love to live there," he said.

The band, who have sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, have just released their 13th album - Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry, Make 'em Wait - and begin the European leg of their tour next week.

Jones, 50, said his children were very fond of their trips back to Wales.

"They love how quiet it is, and they love what they can do there. So I love sharing that, and it's nice to see them connect [with it]," he said.

A song on the new album, Backroom Boys, is based on him sneaking into a pub in the village with his brother's mates to watch old blues and rock bands.

"I'm surrounded by adults, doing adults things, and I shouldn't be there."

"But that was a major part in my life really - how I learned, and watched other people perform, and I learned about people as well," he said.

The band line up is different to when they first formed in 1992, following the death of drummer Stuart Cable in 2010. Kelly and Richard Jones are now joined by Jamie Morrison on drums and guitarist Adam Zindani.

Stereophonics have achieved a rare longevity in the rock and pop world, something Jones said he was proud of.

"Even in America, there are people just discovering the band from four years ago or something. So we're lucky to have a catalogue of music that has stood the test of time, and it's constantly developing," he told Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales.

The UK leg of the band's tour includes two dates at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a special venue to Jones, on the Cardiff Arms Park site where he first saw the Rolling Stones perform in the late 1980s.

"I'm excited to play the shows there and I think it's one of the best stadiums in the world to play a show, because the city's right outside the door of the stadium.

"The city gets taken over by the atmosphere."

The band last played at the stadium in 2022, when Sir Tom Jones appeared alongside them, performing their hit Mama Told Me Not to Come together.

So will Sir Tom make an appearance this summer?

"We talk all the time, whenever we can. He's like my second father. But whether he'll come on and play a show or a song, I don't know, depends where he is. He travels more than me."

You can listen to Lucy Owen's full interview with Kelly Jones on BBC Sounds.