Yr Anhrefn
Encyclopedia
Yr Anhrefn, also known simply as Anhrefn, were an influential Welsh
punk rock
group of the 1980s and 1990s.
for "Disorder") formed in 1982, and initially sang only in Welsh. The band were not supported by Radio Cymru or Welsh-language TV channel S4C
, beyond an occasional interview, and bassist Rhys Mwyn became known as an outspoken critic of the Welsh pop industry. Mwyn (born Gareth Rhys Thomas) set up his own Recordiau Anhrefn
label in 1983, helping to promote like-minded Welsh bands as well as their own music. The band were championed by John Peel
and recorded three sessions for his BBC Radio 1
show; Peel even travelled to Wales to see the band perform. The band played up to 300 gigs a year at their peak, and were featured on Channel 4
TV show The Tube
in 1987, although they were largely ignored by the British music weeklies.
Original members Hefin Huws and Dewi Gwyn left the band in the late 1980s and were replaced by Dylan Hughes (formerly of Y Cyrff
) and Sion Jones (formerly of Maffia Mr Huws).
The band made their first English language
recording in 1990, on a single with Pauline Murray
, and also collaborated with Margi Clarke
(they released a cover of Cole Porter
's "Anything Goes
" as a single).
In 1995 the band released Hen Wlad fy Mamau - Land of My Mothers, before splitting up.
Mwyn and Sebon formed a new band, Mangre, in 2000. Mwyn went on to manage the Crai label and work as an agent. He managed Catatonia
and more recently Jeb Loy Nichols
, which prompted a resurrection of Recordiau Anhrefn.
In 2007 Anhrefn reformed without Mwyn, now with Ryan Kift on vocals.
Super Furry Animals
drummer Dafydd Ieuan was also in Yr Anhrefn for a time, playing on their 1993 Peel session, and SFA had started out as a techno
band, supporting Yr Anhrefn on a tour of France
in 1993.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group of the 1980s and 1990s.
History
Anhrefn (WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
for "Disorder") formed in 1982, and initially sang only in Welsh. The band were not supported by Radio Cymru or Welsh-language TV channel S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
, beyond an occasional interview, and bassist Rhys Mwyn became known as an outspoken critic of the Welsh pop industry. Mwyn (born Gareth Rhys Thomas) set up his own Recordiau Anhrefn
Anhrefn Records
Recordiau Anhrefn was a record label established in 1983 by Rhys Mwyn.Based in the small mid-Wales village of Llanfair Caereinion, before Rhys and his brother Sion Sebon moved to Bangor, North Wales, the record label was initially an outlet for their own band Yr Anhrefn but soon went on to release...
label in 1983, helping to promote like-minded Welsh bands as well as their own music. The band were championed by John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
and recorded three sessions for his BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show; Peel even travelled to Wales to see the band perform. The band played up to 300 gigs a year at their peak, and were featured on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
TV show The Tube
The Tube (TV series)
The Tube was an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme, which ran for five seasons, from 5 November 1982 until 1987...
in 1987, although they were largely ignored by the British music weeklies.
Original members Hefin Huws and Dewi Gwyn left the band in the late 1980s and were replaced by Dylan Hughes (formerly of Y Cyrff
Y Cyrff
Y Cyrff were a popular Welsh language indie band in the 1980s. They came from Llanrwst, Conwy, and their line-up included Mark Roberts , Barry Cawley , Paul Jones and Dylan Hughes . Dylan left to join Welsh punks Yr Anhrefn and Mark Kendall took Dylan's place...
) and Sion Jones (formerly of Maffia Mr Huws).
The band made their first English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
recording in 1990, on a single with Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray was the lead singer of the punk rock band, Penetration, which was originally formed in 1976.In May 1976 the then 18-year-old Murray saw the Sex Pistols...
, and also collaborated with Margi Clarke
Margi Clarke
Margi Clarke is a British actress . She was born in Liverpool and raised in Kirkby , and is known for her Scouse accent and platinum-blonde hair.-Early career:...
(they released a cover of Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
's "Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
" as a single).
In 1995 the band released Hen Wlad fy Mamau - Land of My Mothers, before splitting up.
Mwyn and Sebon formed a new band, Mangre, in 2000. Mwyn went on to manage the Crai label and work as an agent. He managed Catatonia
Catatonia (band)
Catatonia were an alternative rock band from Wales who gained a national following in the United Kingdom in the mid to late 1990s. The band consisted of Cerys Matthews on vocals, Mark Roberts on guitar, Paul Jones on bass , Owen Powell on...
and more recently Jeb Loy Nichols
Jeb Loy Nichols
Jeb Loy Nichols is an American-born singer, songwriter, musician, and artist currently living in Wales. His music combines elements of soul, country, folk, reggae and blues.-Biography:...
, which prompted a resurrection of Recordiau Anhrefn.
In 2007 Anhrefn reformed without Mwyn, now with Ryan Kift on vocals.
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
drummer Dafydd Ieuan was also in Yr Anhrefn for a time, playing on their 1993 Peel session, and SFA had started out as a techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
band, supporting Yr Anhrefn on a tour of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1993.
Albums
- Defaid, Skateboards a Wellies (1987), Workers Playtime
- Bwrw Cwrw (1989), Workers Playtime
- Rhowch Eich Teitl Eich Hun (1990), - live cassette-only album, title translates as Fill in Your own Title
- Dial y Ddraig (1991)
- Dave Goodman Sessions (199?), Incognito
- Rhedeg i Bohemia Live (199?), Pro Art
- Dragons Revenge (199?), Lithograph
- Hen Wlad fy Mamau - Land of My Mothers (1995), Crai
Singles
- "Be Nesa 89" / "Bach Dy Ben " (1988) Anhrefn
- Bwtleg Powerhaus Llundain 1.3.1990 (1990), Information Libre
- "Dim Heddwch" / "Priodas Hapus", Anhrefn
- "Rhedeg i Paris" / "Y Ffordd Ymlaen" / "Llgad Wrth Lygad" (1990)Crai C008s