The Stereophonics consists of Javier Weyler (drums), Kelly Jones (vocals, guitar), Richard Jones (bass).
Stereophonics are a Welsh music group formed in 1992 and originally known as Tragic Love Company, a name inspired by their favourite bands Tragically Hip, Mother Love Bone and Bad Company. They started out as a teenage cover band and later, inspired by Stuart's grandmother's gramophone changed their name to "Stereophonics". They hail from Cwmaman, near Aberdare in South Wales and after they changed their name they were one of the first bands to be signed to Richard Branson's V2 label in August 1996. Their best known songs include "A Thousand Trees", "Mr. Writer", "Local Boy in a Photograph", "Dakota, "Maybe Tomorrow", "Just Looking" and a cover of Mike d'Abo's " Handbags and Gladrags".
Kelly Jones (vocals/guitar and songwriter) Richard Jones (bass/vocals) Stuart Cable (drums) was sacked by the other two members of the band in September 2003 and was replaced by ex- Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman for several tour dates. Javier Weyler (drums) was announced as a replacement to Stuart Cable in December 2004. The band first met Argentinian Javier when they were recording album demos, and then again in late 2003 when they were visiting Argentina.
In the early days they supported both Manic Street Preachers and Ocean Colour Scene as well as being joined onstage by Doug Parmenter.
In February 1998 they received a Brit Award for Best New Group the same week as a re-issue of "Local Boy in the Photograph" made number 14 in the charts and their first album went gold selling over 100,000 copies. During that year they had successful tours in Europe, Australia and the USA.
Following on from the success achieved in late 1998 with "The Bartender and the Thief", the second single from Performance and Cocktails, "Just Looking", was released and reached number 4 in March 1999. The same month the much anticipated new album was finally released, entering at number 1 and within three weeks having gone platinum. Later that year saw them play what was widely regarded as the best gig of the year in Britain in front of 50,000 people at Morfa Stadium in Swansea. They also cooperated with Tom Jones for a track on his album Reload.