The Poppies (Welsh band)

The Poppies were a cult favourite within the Welsh rock scene during the mid 00s known for their driving fast paced performances and eccentric front man.

In early 2003, Sam James (Guitar and Vocals) formerly of Mozz and Twm Champagne (Drums and Vocals) came across a bass player slumped over the bar at the legendary 'Bay' in Aberystwyth. After a few shots of dark rum, Eifion Austin agreed to become the band's bassist and the trio were ready.

Eifion, originally from Morriston in Swansea was a first year politics student at Aberystwyth University while Twm (from Carmarthen) studied Film. Sam, to many the driving raw talent of the band in the early years, was still a schoolboy at the local Welsh Comp.

The band's first gig was held by the end of the 2003 term and the healthy crowd of friends and well-wishers with their limited expectations were more than pleasantly surprised. The band grew quickly with support from Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and their deserved reputation for exhilarating live performances while gigging around the country.

The band's gigs featured many songs that have since become classics of the SRG (Welsh rock scene); songs such as the anti-US 'Dau Bys'; the emotional and ironic 'Gucci'; the self-pitying 'Cam'; the simple but enduring Chasing Pigeons and the iconic 'Sex Sells'. By the graduation of Twm and Eifion, the band had recorded sessions on C2 [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/radiocymru/c2/sesiwn/poppies.shtml BBC - Radio Cymru - C2 ] ] and a three track EP on the Ciwdod label [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/radiocymru/c2/adolygiadau/poppies.shtml BBC - Radio Cymru - C2 ] ] featuring Dau bys, Cam and Sex Sells. The band also swiped the 'Best live act' award at the Welsh music awards in 2006. Many saw them as the Dark side of the Welsh rock scene, contrasting sharply with the almost childish innocence of ‘Radio Luxembourg’ – interestingly, Sam and Radio Lux front man Meilyr were old friends and band mates from the days of Mozz.

By late 2005, the band had moved to Splott in Cardiff where, under the management of ex-Catatonia guitarist Owen Powell, they concentrated full-time on the music. However after internal rifts, Twm was replaced by Gethin, a drumming student at Cardiff Collage of music and drama. The band kept many of their razor-sharp indie numbers but developed a more melodic, almost swing edge to their routine with songs such as Mona Lisa. Soon after the recruitment of Gethin, the band penned another iconic tune that blended their classic razor-rock with their newer, more mature approach; 'I know where you live'.

After being (allegedly) heavily scouted by Sony and Rough Trade records the band began to drift apart and gig less as Sam toured as a replacement bassist with The Heights, Gethin's Jazz band went from strength to strength and Eifion's involvement with The Spencer McGarry Season took much of his time. The band finally called it a day late in 2007 with a half conscious Sam ending the final gig without an encore and refusing to play many of the classics. Ironically, the band had by then developed a fantastically diverse repertoire with reggae and samba numbers complementing their Indy rock songs. Eifion and Gethin had replaced Sam as the motor of the band and many of the new and mature songs came from these two. By the end, the band carried an almost arrogant aura, one which many took as a pretentious indifference to the Welsh music scene that had nurtured and supported them.

The band finally split as Sam left for London with members of the Heights, Gethin concentrated on his Jazz and Eifion went on to form and develop 'Avash Avash'. At their peak, the Poppies were a gritty and respected favourite of the Welsh rock scene in the post-Big Leaves era. But their ambition and talent went much further and performances at the Sesiwn Fawr, 2005 eisteddfod and Welsh nights in Camden became as ledgendary as Sam's trouser exploits.

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