Super Furry Animals' Sound Tank at the 1996 National Eisteddfod
The Super Furry Animals' sound tank at the 1996 National Eisteddfod site was decorated with the band's name, the title of one of their songs, If You Don't Want Me to Destroy You, and on the front, the slogan 'A Oes Heddwch?'
As the National Eisteddfod announced that Super Furry Animals would perform there for the first time in 30 years, a friend of the band recalls back to that 1996 Eisteddfod when the band was newly emerging on the scene.
Certain Eisteddfods are memorable for specific reasons: Alan Llwyd's Dwbl Dwbl in Aberteifi 1976, the mud of Abergwaun 1986, the Pink Pavilion in Abertawe 2006.
The 1996 National Eisteddfod in Llandeilo was the Eisteddfod of the Super Furry Animals.
Three months after attracting attention with their first album and a few weeks after their first appearance on Top of the Pops, the Super Furries were on their way to Llandeilo, traveling in a blue tank amid a controversy over the Welsh language.
The band, who had released some singles and an EP, had played at the Bro Conwy Eisteddfod in Abergele the previous year.
But in the 12 months since, they had been signed by Creation Records and released their album Fuzzy Logic. They had also purchased an old military tank, installed a sound system inside it, and painted slogans on it, including the Orsedd's cry: 'A Oes Heddwch?'.
Dic Ben, in the background, during the recording of the album Fuzzy Logic with (left to right) Guto Pryce, Dewi Emlyn, Dafydd Ieuan, and Gruff Rhys
Memories from Dic Ben, Friend of the Band
Thirty years later, one who remembers the Eisteddfod well is Dic Ben, from Bethesda, a friend of the band.
"They'd never had any money before then but they got an advance from Creation which was quite generous and they said 'let's buy a tank'," he told Cymru Fyw.
"I think it was a Sherman Tank and they had to carry it to the Eisteddfod and other festivals on the back of a lorry. They had to drive it across fields because they weren't allowed to drive it on roads, which became a bit of an urban myth.
"I know Don Henley of the Eagles bought it from them in the end. I don't think he knew about the band but he collects military stuff."
So, in the middle of the National Eisteddfod week, there was a tank on the Maes playing techno music and excitement that the band was performing.
However, diplomatic skills rather than military ones were needed by the group at the time as they were in the midst of a language controversy. The Furries and other bands like Catatonia and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci had been criticized for singing in English, which was a heated topic then.
While the band played in the rock tent on the Maes, organizers were concerned that the Eisteddfod's language rule might be broken.
Gruff Rhys at the gig during the day on the Maes whistling instead of singing in English
Instead of singing their English tracks, Gruff Rhys whistled the melodies. The band also handed out a leaflet to the crowd with the lyrics in two different languages in case they wanted to sing along.
"They got the crowd to sing in English and Japanese," said Dic. "I don't know why Japanese – but you never know with the Furries. I'm sure someone had an idea and then wrote it down on paper."
Leaflet 'Cymanfa Ganu gyda'r Anifeiliaid Blewog Anhygoel' at the gig on the Eisteddfod Maes, with song lyrics in English and Japanese
In the evening, the group played a gig at Clwb y Gwernllwyn, Cross Hands, organized by Cymdeithas yr Iaith. There, they performed their usual set as the language rule did not apply.
In response to criticism for singing in English, the Furries released a 7" single titled (Nid) Hon yw'r Gân sy'n Mynd i Achub yr Iaith.
"They gave the single out free to the audience at the gig," said Dic Ben. "Only 500 copies existed but the venue held about 700 I think so not everyone could get one."
The next day, they had to leave the Eisteddfod with the tank because they were playing at Reading or another festival.
One of the 500 singles given free to the crowd at the Furries' gig at the 1996 Llandeilo Eisteddfod
Personal Connections and Later Reunion
Dic Ben, who used to share a house with drummer Dafydd Ieuan and original lead singer of the SFA, actor Rhys Ifans, in the early 90s, recalls giving a gift to the band at the 1996 Eisteddfod.
He and his wife had been staying in Pembrokeshire for a few days before heading to Llandeilo and meeting Meic Stevens in a pub.
The musician from Solfach had heard that the SFA were playing Y Brawd Houdini in gigs. So he wrote the original lyrics of his song on the back of an envelope—the English words before they were translated by Geraint Jarman—and asked Dic Ben to give them to the band.
Selfie of Dic Ben with the Furries during a break in their recent rehearsals
Dic Ben will return to Pembrokeshire this August to watch the Furries at the Eisteddfod y Garreg Las—this will be the fifth time he has seen them on their tour this year, which starts in May.
He is aware of the reunion for some time and has recently seen the band rehearse, including several Welsh songs that will be played for the first time in years at their performance on the Maes stage.
"They haven't played some of the songs for years and so they've been spying on YouTube to try to learn them again," he said.
Unfortunately, one thing not available online is the archive video of the 1996 Llandeilo Eisteddfod that Dic Ben filmed. He says he gave the tapes to be used as part of a visual element in the Furries' gigs at the time—but they have been lost.
"I used to record Super8 footage of the tank—inside and everything—all on film," he said. "So there is footage from that period that rules, and if it ever turns up, I know I own the copyright!"
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