Not that this stalled Stereophonics any. The numbers � the black and white ones, the ones with all the zeros � sing for themselves. These days Kelly Jones gets requests to pose topless in press shots, has been offered the cover of the gay title �Attitude�, has been advised that using sexuality as a marketing device would �up� the profile of Stereophonics even further. But he doesn�t want to do this. There would, he thinks, be something inherently unsexy about this. Wouldn�t there?
In conversation Kelly Jones is a gap-toothed man with a quiet voice and a strong sense of humour. There is something extremely likeable about him.
On more than occasion he�ll use the phrase �we�re about the music�. But what of that music? You could well imagine that Kelly Jones believes that songs are only songs if they can be played on an acoustic guitar. And that anything other than this is simply not songwriting is something to be cursed, despised and (quietly) feared.
Not so.
�I don�t think songwriting should be about anything as organic as traditional writers,� he says. �I don�t think music should have to be written like a Bob Dylan song or a Neil Young song. A song like Massive Attack�s �Teardrop� was probably written in layers in the studio, as was much of our album. I didn�t set out to write a retro album, and I don�t think that�s what I�ve done. It�s reference points maybe from the 70�s, but I think the record is very modern, I think its variety, the way the songs are played and the record�s dynamic are very modern.
Aside from what you think of the music, it all becomes a bit predictable. To focus on the level of Stereophonics� �credibility� � and try defining that word � begs the question: credibility from whom? And for what? You could counter this �elitism� with �populism� and point to the band�s millions of admirers for evidence of�well, something. But then you could � because these debates always become silly, always become like this � point to Creed or Bon Jovi (or Ronald Reagan! Or Margaret Thatcher!) Who also attracted millions of admirers, And that meant something too. And it wasn�t good news.
So forget it. If you like Stereophonics then play their record. It�s what they�d want you to do anyway. And if you don�t like them, then don�t.
Here�s Kelly Jones to close the show. �I�m past caring what people think of us, really,� he says. �It does irritate me sometimes, but not all that often. You have to earn respect because nobody owes you anything. But when Led Zeppelin were looked upon as a blues traditionalist band. And on U2�s fourth album, no-one respected them either. But you get to a point where you turn so many heads that people have to take notice of you, and all of a sudden you�re this legendary band. But all we can do is keep going, which I think is the best thing. Not to worry about anything else. That�s all I can do. Actually, that�s all I want to do.�