The band were formed around 1991 by Mark Roberts and Cerys Matthews with a different lineup to when they were at their most famous. This being: Mark (guitar) Cerys (vocals and guitar), Paul Jones (bass), Dafydd Ieuan (drums) and Clancy Pegg (keyboards) They released two EPs (One in 1993, one in 1994) on Crai Records with this lineup. Clancy was then subsequently dropped and Dafydd left the band.
Aled became the new drummer. They then released a single on Nursery Records in 1995 before being signed up to a major record label. Owen Powell then came on-board an additional guitarist. They then released their debut album in 1996 "Way Beyond Blue". The album and singles from it did not chart very highly unfortunately. They then released their next album in 1998 "International Velvet" with the singles "Mulder And Scully" and "Road Rage" Catapulting them in to fame.
The album "Equally Cursed and Blessed" followed in 1999 and charted at number 1. By the end of 1999 the band were worn out through the constant promotion and touring of the past two years, so spent more time relaxing and working on their fourth album "Paper, Scissors, Stone". This album was unfortunately not as successful as their previous 2 albums. Probably partly due to the diminished promotion of the album as Catatonia split by September 21st 2001, only managing to release "Stone By Stone" as a single from that album (whereas all previous albums had at least 3 singles released from each)
After the split, a greatest hits album was released in 2002 by Blanco Y Negro.
Paul and Mark went on to form a small welsh group named "Sherbert Antlers" (which have now split) They have now got a new project going called Y Ffyrc (www.myspace.com/yffyrc) and an album out now
Cerys has persued a solo career and released her 2nd solo album on 21/08/06, called "Never Said Goodbye" (www.cerysmatthews.co.uk) ,
Also, check out Cerys' myspace page at (www.myspace.com/cerysmatthewsofficial) For tour dates and other updates
Aled drums for solo artist "Amy Wadge" and
Until recently Owen Powell was the manager of a band named "The Poppies" I am now informed he is looking to start up a management company, as well as producing music... ranging from theme tunes to tracks for artists. (www.myspace.com/thepoppiesuk)
A little bit about the songs on the profile:
Fall Beside Her - This song is the 2nd track from Catatonia's 2nd EP with their original line-up, released in 1994. It was released on the Welsh independent label, Crai. The song also appears on "1993/1994 - The Crai EPs" CD, Which is a compilation of the first 2 EPs For Tinkerbell and Hooked. It was released in 1998 following the success of International Velvet.
I Am The Mob (Live) - This is from Catatonia's set at Reading Festival in August 1999. The original version appears on the album "International Velvet"
Road Rage (Ghia Mix) - This is a B-side from the 1998 release of the Road Rage CD Single. This song also appears on the Japanese EP named "Mulder and Scully EP"
Beautiful Loser - This is an album track from "Paper Scissors Stone" released in 2001.
Unfortunately there is no longer an official site, so the link provided here goes to the wikipedia entry for Catatonia, which has some links listed on it for the other sites that are still around. Please also note this myspace is not maintained by the band, and is here as a tribute to Catatonia in the absence of a band-managed myspace. Thanks go out to Ali for adding the videos for Dimbran, Lost Cat and Bleed to Youtube.
If you want more news on what the ex-members of Catatonia are up to then Chantal's News Page on her Catatonia site, "New Bonhomie" is kept nicely up to date
Music Videos
Dimbran
Sweet Catatonia
Lost Cat
Bleed
Mulder And Scully
Watch the US Version of the video at this link
Road Rage
Dead From The Waist Down (Live at Margam Park, 1999)
Londinium (Live at Margam Park, 1999)
Stone By Stone
Space & Cerys Matthews - The Ballad of Tom Jones
French & Saunders' Catatonia Parody
