Super Furry Animals have explained why they turned down the chance to support Oasis and U2, as well as a slot on Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage, in their first interview since 2016.
Speaking to Uncut, the Welsh five-piece also touched on an argument with Bruce Springsteen’s drummer, as well as their ‘Love Kraft’ 20th anniversary reissue later this month.
Frontman Gruff Rhys explained that they turned down Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage for ‘Rings Around The World‘, their 2001 album, because “our sound guy couldn’t do it, he was on holiday in France,” and a support slot on Oasis’ 1996 Loch Lomond shows, because “we were below The Bootleg Beatles on the bill.”
Of a potential tour with U2, he said it didn’t happen “because the flat fee they offered couldn’t cover our expenses.”
Rhys looked back on an appearance on Late Night With David Letterman, in which the band “got into a row” with Bruce Springsteen’s drummer, Max Weinberg, who also worked as Letterman’s bandleader.
“We asked his brass section to do our gig in New York, and he caught wind,” Rhys explained. “We weren’t trying to poach his brass section, but he flew into our dressing room … it was unpleasant.”
The band, meanwhile, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 2005 album ‘Love Kraft’ with a reissue on October 24. It’ll be available on double vinyl, 2CDs, including the 22-track bonus CD ‘Kiss Me With Apocalypse’, and digital formats. You can pre-order and pre-save it here.
The album saw all of the band’s members contribute songs and lead vocals for the first time, with Rhys telling Uncut that “it was just the band evolving” and “didn’t feel forced”.
They’re also heading out on their ‘Supacabra’ UK and Ireland tour next year in their first run of live shows since 2016. The run of nine shows will begin at Dublin’s 3Olympia on May 6 and finish with two shows at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on May 22 and 23. Take a look at the dates below and find any remaining tickets here.
Super Furry Animals’ 2026 dates are:
MAY
06 – Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre*
08 – Glasgow, The Barrowlands*
09 – Glasgow, The Barrowlands*
14 – Llandudno, Venue Cymru*
15 – Llandudno, Venue Cymru*
16 – Cardiff, Utilita Arena**
21 – Manchester, O2 Apollo*
22 – London, O2 Brixton Academy***
23 – London, O2 Brixton Academy****
*supported by Getdown Services
**supported by Getdown Services and Melin Melyn
***supported by Honeyglaze
****supported by The Bug Club
The band also recently shared one of the four previously-unheard tracks set to feature on the ‘Love Kraft’ reissue. Listen to ‘Rock N’ Roll Flu’, which features lead vocals from drummer Dafydd Ieuan, here.
