Welsh rockers Stereophonics have shared their surprising backstage ritual they take part in before performing, after their newest album soared to the top of the charts.
Stereophonics may be old school, but the rockers say they have thawed through one another’s tough exteriors and swapped fist bumps for hugs backstage.
“Recently in the last year or two, we started to give each other a hug. It went from a fist bump about a year and a half ago…usually we wouldn’t even look at each other and you just walk on,” says drummer Jamie Morrison.
The band, which also includes Kelly Jones, Richard Jones and Adam Zindani, performed hits such as Dakota in front of the 60,000 strong crowd at Radio 2 In The Park over the weekend.
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While their classic tracks got the festival going, so did their new music, with the band’s most recent album – Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait – flying straight to number one in the charts.
“The songs on the album are quite personal.”says guitarist Adam Zindani. He adds, “When songs are written in such a way, they just connect with people and for simple reasons.”
“It’s like a big snow, big snow rolling down the mountain just getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Right at the bottom is number one, not at the top, it’s right at the bottom,” continues the musician.
With the Welsh band set to head on an enormous arena tour later this year, bassist Richard Jones said the fire to perform still burns as brightly as ever, “It’s the best job in the world, really, to play music in front of a great audience.”
He added: “It’s good going… and we’ve got great fans as well. You know the fans are amazing. We do our bit. They bring the atmosphere and we feel that.”
The band also spoke about the importance of championing younger artists, something they are passionate about.
Putting this into action during their special performance at the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on Saturday, 16 August 2025, they were joined by Blossoms and Jake Bugg.
As Morrison explained: “Well, they did it, bigger bands did it to you when you’re coming up. It’s just a rite of passage… when you can provide that stage to another artist.” He added: “It wouldn’t be a summer without seeing Jake.”
With nine number one albums behind them and their biggest arena tour ahead, Stereophonics show no signs of slowing down.
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