Richard Jones (Stereophonics)

This article is about Richard Jones the bass player. For information on The Feeling band member of the same name, see Richard Jones (bassist).

Richard Jones
Richard Jones in Bangkok
Background information
Birth name	Richard Jones
Born	23 May 1974 (1974-05-23)
Origin	Cwmaman, Wales
Genres	Rock, Britpop
Occupations	Musician, bassist
Instruments	Bass guitar, vocals
Labels	V2 Records, Vox Populi Records
Website	stereophonics.com

Richard Jones (born 23 May 1974) is the bassist and backing vocalist for the Welsh rock band Stereophonics, playing alongside Kelly Jones (no relation) and Javier Weyler. Jones grew up in Cwmaman, an old mining village in South Wales. Richard originally formed the band with Kelly Jones and Stuart Cable (former drummer of Stereophonics), playing under different band names such as 'Silent Runner', 'Tragic Love Company' and 'Mable Cable'. Jones played to his largest audience on 2 July 2005 as the group appeared at the Live 8 concert, in Hyde Park, London.

Jones is often noted for his tattoos, and claims; "I got my first tattoo done in one of the Welsh Valleys when I was 16 or 17. By law you shouldn't have them before you're 18 but this tattooist bloke figured if you were old enough to walk in his shop, you were old enough to have them done. I wanted Jonesy tattooed on my arm but he spelt it wrong and put J-O-N-S-E-Y. I went back a few weeks later and asked for a big tattoo on my body but I hadn't got enough money, so instead he tattooed Richard on the side of my neck. I quite regret that one, actually." The 'Jonsey' tattoo on Jones' upper-right arm, among others, has since been covered up by Maori, Japanese and Tibetan designs across his arms and upper chest, however he is still most recognised for having his Christian name written across his neck.

Personal life

Jones married his wife Gail Middleditch, a stylist, in 2000 at her hometown in Southwold, Suffolk. They have two daughters, Coco (born in 2005), Sunny Lou (born in 2011), and a son, Cass (born in 2007), and currently reside in Buckinghamshire. His wife had previously designed a line of sterling silver jewellery called Coco&Cass, in honour of their eldest two children, before the arrival of Sunny Lou. Jones "claims" he supports Cwmaman Institute F.C.