Gwreiddiau Roc: Y Tebot Piws

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-We were pretty shambolic,

-but we had fun.

-For the next hour, we'll guide you

-along the timeline...

-..and musical journey

-of the members of Y Tebot Piws.

-Why the name Y Tebot Piws?

-Well, Mr Jones...

-Well, Mr Jones...

-

-You can call me sir.

-OK, sir, Mr Jones.

-We wanted to call ourselves

-Huw Jones or Dafydd Iwan...

-..but they were already taken.

-The original name

-was Potiwrs Gwynedd.

-We'll look

-at their musical careers...

-..between forming in 1968

-and this year's final gig.

-The word that crops up most

-is "fun".

-# Goodness gracious, do sit down,

-someone has stolen my nose!

-# Goodness gracious, do sit down,

-someone has stolen my nose!

-They were punk before punk emerged.

-Complete nutters!

-If you've heard of John Jones,

-the wooden lad...

-..and if you've left Llanfihangel

-or milked the cow...

-..you will be aware

-of the crazy Y Tebot Piws gang.

-# I'm going back

-to Blaenau Ffestiniog

-# Catching the first train

-out of town

-# I'm going back

-to Blaenau Ffestiniog

-# Because it's my seventh heaven #

-We started in 1968

-at Cyncoed College.

-Stan was there.

-He was my classmate at school,

-so I knew him.

-We met Sbardun.

-He had a guitar,

-and I had some sort of guitar.

-We started to fool around. Stan

-was a fantastic singer at school.

-# I'm going back

-to Blaenau Ffestiniog

-# Because it's my seventh heaven #

-We started jamming...

-..and began to think

-about composing songs.

-We wrote John Jones.

-It took at least twenty minutes,

-if I remember rightly.

-We rushed to the girls' room

-to sing the song...

-..and not for any other reason!

-We saw an advert

-for a pop eisteddfod in Denbigh.

-We decided to give it a go.

-We won 6 - 2 each.

-It was a lot of beer!

-Despite their success in Denbigh,

-Y Tebot Piws wasn't complete.

-A fourth member was yet to join.

-Me and a schoolmate were in a band

-called The Outlanders.

-We sang in English.

-# Freight train, freight train,

-going so fast #

-Our first gig

-was at Swansea Labour Club.

-We were getting ten bob.

-We sang two songs and the bloke

-gave us ten bob and said...

-.."Go up the Conservative Club.

-They might like you up there."

-Not a good start!

-We were students

-and had already come across Dewi.

-He played guitar and sang.

-He came to us after our Denbigh win

-and said, "You sing in Welsh."

-"Yes," we said.

-"I've composed a few Welsh songs,"

-he continued. "You can have them."

-He gave us three or four songs...

-..including Mari

-and Dan Ddwr Oer Y Llyn.

-We thought they were good.

-Dewi suggested improvements

-whenever we played them.

-Sbardun finally gave in and said,

-"Join us if you're so bloody good!"

-"I thought you'd never ask,"

-said Dewi.

-We were four now.

-That's when it started for real.

-In those days, bands' gigs

-were more of a variety show.

-Y Tebot Piws

-created quite an impression.

-All sorts of groups

-would perform.

-Five or six bands or soloists

-would take part.

-Everyone sang a couple of songs

-in the first and second half.

-It was easier than it is today.

-People expect us to perform

-for up to 90 minutes.

-At the time, all Welsh songs

-were very melancholy.

-There were protest songs,

-and everything was sad.

-Everyone dressed similarly.

-We wanted to do

-something completely different.

-We didn't practise a lot.

-We were only on for five minutes,

-ten minutes at the most.

-We'd be in the pub by eight -

-and we'd been paid a fiver!

-The band recorded four EPs

-before 1972.

-The instrumental wizardry

-of The James Hogg Band...

-..who also played on the records...

-..was a far cry

-from seeing Y Tebot Piws live.

-Y Tebot Piws were great on record.

-But unfortunately...

-..gigs were a major stumbling block.

-They didn't turn up,

-or one member didn't turn up.

-I remember watching Disc A Dawn

-in the New Ely.

-It was fantastic at the time.

-Suddenly, I heard, "Tonight,

-Y Tebot Piws are in Llan-non!"

-I realized I'd arranged it.

-We didn't make it.

-We had no hope of reaching Llan-non!

-We phoned to say the car had broken

-down and promised them a free gig.

-They didn't show up for that either.

-I say they, because I didn't

-even know about the gig.

-He did know! He was too lazy!

-If someone said to Ems...

-.."Wouldn't it be a great idea

-to go for a walk around the lake?"

-He'd say, "I've got a better idea.

-Let's not."

-# Farewell, Llanfihangel

-# I'm leaving on the wind

-# Oh, farewell

-# The sun is guiding me

-# To the Wales of yesteryear

-# Oh, farewell

-# The dark skies will fade

-# A new dawn we'll see

-# I'm flying now

-# And I can hold my head up high

-# Oh, farewell, Llanfihangel

-# I see gentle Dewi

-# Oh, farewell #

-We were spitting on stage

-long before the punks...

-..especially

-when we sang a serious song.

-If Dewi wanted to sing a sad song...

-..I knew he would sing Lleucu Llwyd.

-Someone accidentally spat

-on someone's cheek.

-He spat back.

-By the end of the song,

-their T-shirts were soaking!

-They spat at each other

-regularly after that.

-It was an odd thing to do.

-Five years later, Johnny Rotten

-did exactly the same thing.

-He must have been

-to one of our gigs.

-I've been thinking about the awful

-jokes you crack on stage and TV.

-Are you a band

-that's trying to be funny...

-..with the emphasis on trying,

-or a real band that's lost its way?

-Yes.

-I'd had a few pints

-before a gig in Rhyl.

-I'd stolen Alun Ffred's mac.

-He still bangs on about that mac!

-I was so drunk,

-I didn't even take the mac off.

-In fact,

-the guitar stayed in the case!

-If we knew there'd be good guitars

-at a gig...

-..Ems and I

-would end up quarrelling.

-If Huw Jones was on the bill...

-..we knew he'd bring his fantastic

-Hagstrom acoustic guitar.

-Meic Stevens helped him buy it.

-It was a great guitar.

-We'd argue over who would ask

-to borrow his guitar.

-Huw Jones's guitar!

-I was a terrible band mate.

-I didn't even bring a guitar.

-I just turned up

-in Alun Ffred's mac with a few quid.

-We'd chat amongst ourselves.

-"Who's playing on Saturday?"

-"Y Diliau, and so and so."

-"Is Huw Jones singing?" "Yes."

-"OK, we'll do the gig."

-None of us had a guitar

-for many of the gigs

-We'd use Dafydd Iwan's guitar!

-# Two little dogs go to the forest

-# With a new shoe on each foot #

-Despite the chaos and anarchy,

-the band's following grew.

-They appeared on Disc A Dawn and

-topped the Asbri and Y Cymro charts.

-Pws composes fantastic songs

-out of nothing.

-He composed Nwy Yn Y Nen...

-..when we drove from a gig

-through Port Talbot.

-He noticed a strange neon light,

-and it was a misty night.

-He saw a sign for British Gas.

-The Welsh word for gas is "nwy",

-so I started to sing.

-Stan began harmonizing.

-We realized it was a nice tune.

-We wrote it in ten minutes.

-It came just like that.

-We won 50.

-Fifty quid! They get 10,000 now!

-Roly, the presenter,

-didn't know me from Adam.

-He shook my hand.

-He said, "Did you dream you'd win?"

-Yes, something like that.

-I just lifted my shirt!

-Everyone collapsed.

-Roly said to Huw Jones, "I hadn't

-realized Dewi didn't speak Welsh."

-I wrote the song!

-By the end of 1972, Y Tebot Piws

-had split up - for the time being.

-Their individual contribution

-to the Welsh pop scene continued.

-Members felt that they wanted

-to do something else.

-I was working on a magazine, Swn.

-I was the co-editor with Dafydd Mei.

-Pws wanted to start a heavier band.

-Dewi Pws,

-heavier band, after the break.

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-After Y Tebot Piws split up in 1972,

-the members followed separate paths.

-Dewi Pws turned his hand

-to a heavier style.

-He loves Status Quo,

-he truly loves Quo.

-He has always dreamt

-of being a rock singer.

-# Wild dream of the long needle #

-I often slept on Hefin Elis's floor

-in Aberystwyth.

-"Come on, they're open!"

-he'd say at eight in the morning.

-Dewi and I spent a lot of time

-in Aberystwyth's Marine Hotel.

-There was a jukebox

-in the cellar bar.

-Rod Stewart's Maggie May

-struck a chord with me.

-It was a combination

-of rock and folksy mandolin.

-I liked the blend of rock and folk.

-That was the direction

-I wanted to take.

-# Holes in their white arms

-# That's where the money goes #

-Edward H was Hefin Elis's vision.

-The lad from Port Talbot

-studied music at university.

-He'd already played with Chwyldro...

-..whose songs championed

-the Welsh Language Society.

-Datguddiad

-was another heavy rock band...

-..in the tradition of Y Blew.

-He realized his dream with Edward H.

-He created a heavy rock band...

-..that captured

-Welsh speakers' imagination.

-Perhaps Edward H

-was Hefin and Dewi's vision.

-They wouldn't perform live...

-..until John Griffiths

-and Charli Britton joined them.

-Speculation was rife

-before the first Edward H gig.

-The members had come

-from different bands.

-Could they succeed?

-Their first gig was a noson lawen.

-There were folk performers,

-a choir and cerdd dant singers.

-Then these boys came on stage

-with guitars.

-Dewi Pws started to sing

-Can Y Stiwdants.

-Well... the place erupted.

-Edward H was born.

-But the band wasn't complete -

-there was something missing.

-They didn't have to look far.

-Ac Eraill were on stage that night.

-There was nothing wrong

-with Dewi's voice...

-..but he could sing some things

-better than others.

-I was looking for a different voice.

-I wanted to take a step back.

-I didn't know the chords,

-so Hefin kept scowling at me.

-Ac Eraill were big at the time.

-We really wanted Cleif.

-People like to think

-that things turned sour.

-If there was any resentment...

-..to be honest, it was my fault.

-I remember the night I had to tell

-Ac Eraill I'd made up my mind...

-..to join Edward H.

-I can still see and remember

-their disappointment.

-Hefin Elis, Pws

-and Charli Britton...

-..asked me

-whether the folk music route...

-..was the one I wanted to take.

-They suggested I turned to rock.

-# Nightmare #

-With Cleif on board, they recorded

-Hen Ffordd Gymreig O Fyw.

-It sold 998 within a fortnight...

-..and almost 3,000 in two years.

-There was a lot of anticipation

-surrounding their first album.

-I wasn't disappointed.

-It summed up the period perfectly.

-They mixed folk and rock.

-When the album was released...

-..it was one of the best albums

-I'd ever heard.

-# In a cottage by the river

-# I keep speckled cattle

-# I have a house

-on the banks of the Taff

-# Oh, come to me, Gwenfron #

-Edward H was fast becoming the

-most popular Welsh language band.

-The band inevitably imitated

-the humour and chaos of Tebot Piws.

-We wanted to be groundbreaking.

-We'd have a light show.

-We had flash lights that blew up.

-It was terrible.

-We knew the flash

-would go off when we sang VC10.

-One of the blokes set off the flash.

-We were such wimps, acting rock and

-roll at the front of the stage.

-# VC10 #

-Then we ran back

-before the flash.

-It was like Spinal Tap.

-By the mid 1970s...

-..Edward H was the first Welsh band

-to have a mass following.

-The band put a stop to the idea

-that singing in Welsh was corny.

-Everyone went bonkers.

-People dressed like them.

-They had groupies everywhere.

-Yeah.

-From then on,

-Wales had its own rock scene.

-As a result of Cleif

-joining Edward H Dafis...

-..there was a gap to fill

-in Ac Eraill.

-Another Tebot member

-would broaden his musical horizon.

-After Y Tebot Piws split up...

-..Sbardun joined Ac Eraill.

-Ac Eraill were Tecwyn Ifan,

-formerly of Perlau Taf...

-..Iestyn Garlick,

-Phil Edwards and Huw Williams.

-They wanted to stick

-to traditional Welsh folk music.

-They composed their own songs.

-They were also involved

-with the revolution.

-They were more aligned to Adfer

-than the Welsh Language Society.

-They captivated audiences

-with their long hair.

-They sang about what worried

-the younger generation.

-We tried to follow

-Y Tebot Piws's footsteps.

-There was room for humorous songs.

-We only recorded a few of those.

-We evolved to sing the type of song

-that Tecs composed.

-They were serious...

-..and more political, about

-the language and Adfer ideology.

-# The leader

-of Mynachlog-ddu parish #

-The band often performed

-at events arranged by Adfer.

-Many of their songs were influenced

-by Emyr Llewelyn's speeches.

-As a movement,

-Adfer had a certain appeal for me.

-It rolled up its sleeves

-to do something.

-It didn't stand on a soapbox

-and shout about something.

-They bought

-and renovated old houses.

-Volunteers would do them up

-for local people.

-I didn't agree with some

-of Adfer's philosophies.

-They were too right-wing for me.

-On the whole...

-..I was happy

-to be a member of Ac Eraill.

-The international success of Celtic

-musicians like Alan Stivell...

-..opened the door

-to other folk groups.

-Ac Eraill were to perform

-in Nantes in Brittany.

-We had a dilemma -

-our van had died.

-We called the van Nia Ben Las.

-It was totally clapped out.

-Mici Plwm was our manager.

-Shakin' Stevens And The Sunsets

-lent me the van.

-They lived in Penarth.

-Mici and I went

-to Shakin' Stevens's mother's house.

-I knocked the door

-and asked for the van.

-"Shakin' needs it to play in Germany

-next week." "OK, fine."

-We set off.

-Sbardun sat in the front with me.

-I can't remember

-who was in the middle.

-Sbardun sat in the front

-because we both came from Penrhyn.

-He lied

-and said he could speak French.

-It was a ruse to sit in the front.

-The only French he knew...

-..was the French

-of the tea advert chimpanzees.

-On the quay in Calais,

-he shouted out...

-.."avez-vous un map?"

-That's all he could say!

-That's all he could say!

-

-I got sent to the back!

-In that period...

-..1973-1974...

-..many bands

-considered the possibility...

-..of making a living out of it,

-and becoming a professional band.

-Sbardun was keen.

-I couldn't think of anything else.

-I wanted to have a crack at it.

-I knew it would be hard,

-but I wanted to give it a go.

-Sbardun was the only one

-in a position to do it.

-I reckon he regrets

-not taking the gamble.

-I realized the rest of the boys

-were only starting out.

-They were finishing college.

-It was more of a gamble for them.

-Most of us realized

-we had to go back to college.

-We couldn't afford

-to do it full-time.

-# Nia Ben Aur

-# From Tir na nOg

-# You were the most beautiful girl

-Osian ever saw #

-The song Nia Ben Aur

-was warmly received in gigs.

-The first Welsh rock opera

-was based on the song and legend.

-Welsh youth could see a contemporary

-production in their own country.

-Nia Ben Aur was pioneering.

-Apart from a rock opera on HTV

-a few years earlier...

-..with Meic Stevens,

-Heather and Geraint Jarman...

-..it was the first theatrical

-Welsh language rock opera.

-The National Eisteddfod officials

-gave them the chance...

-..to create a rock opera.

-Ac Eraill, Heather Jones, Dewi Pws,

-Hefin Elis was musical director.

-Wynford Ellis Owen directed.

-They were in charge.

-They didn't need anyone's help.

-They had the confidence

-to do it themselves.

-This stemmed from the intellectual

-revolution of the previous decade.

-This generation was confident

-enough to do things themselves...

-..in Welsh, in Wales.

-Jesus Christ Superstar was popular.

-We explored the possibility

-of doing it in Welsh.

-We went on the train to London

-to see Jesus Christ Superstar...

-..to see how it was put together.

-We were full of excitement

-on our way back.

-We realized we could do it in Welsh.

-We worked out a plot.

-The rock opera was based on

-the Irish legend of Oisin and Niamh.

-Once again, a Celtic influence

-tied it all together.

-We were invited to take part.

-It was a fantastic adventure.

-No-one heard a word on the night.

-It was a disaster.

-The band was fine,

-but the sound failed.

-No-one heard a note.

-Radio mics were new in 1974.

-Cleif and Heather had radio mics.

-They just didn't work.

-Only Dewi Pws's microphone worked.

-His hand mic was different

-from everyone else's.

-His character would create

-the biggest impact, anyway.

-He had the flash comic role.

-He had the edge

-because everyone could hear him.

-# Ri, Ri, Ri, King of Tir na nOg

-# My name is Ri #

-I watched the show.

-Arthur Brown sat close to me

-in the audience.

-The Amazing World Of Arthur Brown.

-He came on stage

-with his hair on fire.

-"I am the god of hell fire,

-I bring you fire."

-He was famous, and he was backstage!

-"Arthur Brown!" I said.

-"Yeah, alright?"

-"What are you doing here?"

-I asked him.

-"Just come to pick up the vibes,

-man, the Celts."

-"There we are then!" I said.

-There we are then. T, w, a, t.

-BLEEP

-It's unusual today...

-..apart from festivals, to have

-people playing with other bands.

-We got to know one another.

-Everyone contributed

-to the composing and performing.

-It was a catalyst to strengthen

-the existing friendships.

-It was a good feeling.

-# I'm the King

-# Ri, Ri, Ri, Ri,

-Ri is my name, yeah! #

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-After Edward H split up in 1976,

-most of the band formed Injaroc...

-..with Geraint Griffiths, Endaf

-Emlyn and two members of Sidan.

-Sidan was nice but not very cool.

-Perhaps we're cool now,

-but at the time we were nicey-nicey.

-I wanted to get my teeth

-into something more meaty.

-Injaroc was the next step for me.

-# Who'd give a damn

-in the middle of the night? #

-I first saw Injaroc

-in Aberystwyth's old Coliseum.

-It was packed.

-Unfortunately for Injaroc...

-..a lot of people

-weren't happy with the band.

-They shouted at them.

-"Where's Dewi Morris?!

-"What have you done

-with Dewi Morris?! It's a disgrace!"

-They performed several gigs...

-..to a disgruntled audience.

-It all began when someone

-suggested the term Anglo-American.

-It was a mortal sin

-to be too Anglo-American.

-We were all influenced

-by Anglo-American music.

-It was rock and pop music.

-People said the music

-was too sophisticated.

-It was different

-from what Edward H had done.

-Some Edward H fans were angry.

-We upset a few people.

-Either they didn't like the music,

-or they felt let down by the split.

-There was absolutely no chance

-that they'd support Injaroc.

-Injaroc wasn't complicated at all.

-Looking back,

-it's rather embarrassing!

-We were a bit green,

-if you know what I mean!

-# Mr Chairman

-# Can I second this motion?

-# It's a funky notion

-# Funky notion #

-The one record

-we managed to produce...

-..was very good.

-It was also different.

-Perhaps it's appreciated today

-more than it was at the time.

-A few good things came out of it.

-We formed links

-with people like Endaf and Geraint.

-Bando, Jip and Eliffant

-came out of it.

-Edward H reformed for a while.

-Following the disappointing

-reaction to Injaroc...

-..Edward H reformed

-before splitting again in 1983.

-Dewi had a new project

-in the pipeline, Mochyn 'Apus.

-# Happy pig off his head every night

-# He never feels pain #

-I saw Mochyn 'Apus

-at Llangefni Eisteddfod in 1983.

-I can't understand

-why they weren't popular.

-People disapproved

-of the non-Welsh band members.

-The same old argument.

-I thought they were very funny.

-Pws displayed

-the old Tebot Piws zaniness.

-I wanted to do Mochyn 'Apus

-in order to perform with Tich.

-He was, and still is, my hero.

-He was a bloke and a half.

-There was also Dafydd Pierce.

-And then Dyfed Thomas.

-We did a gig with Yr Anhrefn,

-who didn't like us.

-They called us a TV band.

-Rhys Mwyn frowned in the corner.

-It made us worse - I painted a red

-spot on my face and wore leathers.

-We tried to out-punk the punks.

-Dyfed Thomas had a great idea.

-He'd come on as a pig.

-He brought a pig's head from London.

-He came on

-pointing a torch at his face.

-The pig's head was horrible,

-but he couldn't see!

-He pulled Tich and Jack's leads

-until they almost came off stage.

-Terrible. Spinal Tap,

-rock and roll!

-I only saw Mochyn 'Apus once,

-and I really enjoyed them.

-It's a pity they stopped performing.

-After Y Tebot Piws, Emyr Huws Jones

-took a different route.

-I worked in Aberystwyth

-after leaving college.

-I became friends with Emyr Wyn

-and the rest of Mynediad Am Ddim.

-I was considering starting a band.

-I asked Emyr whether he'd fancy

-starting one. "I have," he said.

-"Why don't you join us?"

-I heard them sing

-and thought they sounded good.

-That's what I did.

-# I'd like to play guitar

-like Rory Gallagher

-# Or write stories like Stan Lee #

-I liked Mynediad Am Ddim's

-witty songs.

-They always made me laugh.

-They always fooled around on stage.

-They inherited that

-from Y Tebot Piws.

-# I'd like to be

-as big as Robert Mitchum #

-The spirit of Owain Glyndwr...

-..and Bob Tai'r Felin

-are in their performances.

-Their performances

-echoed a traditional noson lawen.

-They had the audience in the palm

-of their hands from the word go.

-Emyr Wyn's voice and personality

-could do that.

-It was a strange combination

-of a violin, guitar and French horn.

-We concentrated on the vocals.

-We got together in the Marine

-and the Skinners in Aberystwyth.

-We sang student-like songs.

-Everyone wanted to sing in a group.

-# Of course

-you can walk along my footpath

-# You can go wherever

-you want on my land #

-Ems's major contribution

-to the group was his songs.

-They sang pop songs

-that are now Welsh classics.

-Ems brought along

-four or five songs...

-..like Arica, Fi...

-..Padi...

-..and it was an eye-opener for us.

-This was more serious.

-The songs we wrote were OK.

-But they had no shelf life.

-Some are still played today,

-and they're OK.

-We all realized

-how special Ems's songs were.

-# This song was saved from the sea

-# It was seen there, drowning

-# By the lighthouse keeper #

-It was Ems's most prolific time

-as a composer.

-His songs were gentle,

-nostalgic and romantic.

-They were part

-of Mynediad Am Ddim's repertoire...

-..of fun songs and quieter numbers.

-It made them a successful folk band.

-My career has been very jammy.

-I've been in the right place

-at the right time.

-I met Ems, Stan and Pws

-at Cyncoed College.

-I worked in Glansefin when Ac Eraill

-were in college in Carmarthen.

-I found myself in Aber

-when Mynediad Am Ddim were students.

-Emyr Wyn asked me whether I'd like

-to do something with them.

-They had the same motive

-as Ac Eraill - my banjo!

-The former Tebot members' reunion

-didn't last long.

-Once again, Ems had had enough.

-It was easier to travel with

-Mynediad when I was in Aberystwyth.

-We were in the same place,

-and going to the same concerts.

-When Emyr and I moved to Cardiff...

-..things became more difficult.

-I wasn't enjoying it as much.

-We'd meet somewhere and sing,

-then make our way home.

-I found it sad.

-I'd had enough

-of performing by then.

-I left at the end of the 1970s,

-but I still wrote songs for them.

-I didn't perform with them again.

-When I was with Mynediad

-in Aberystwyth...

-..we were gigging and travelling

-every weekend.

-Tecwyn Ifan

-had started to sing on his own.

-He asked me if I'd be interested

-in accompanying him on the guitar.

-I agreed.

-# We'll go to the towns and cities

-# It will be good

-to meet the people #

-Working with Tecs was different,

-because his songs were so sad.

-His songs had a message.

-People liked to sit down

-and listen to them.

-It was a nice change...

-..after two years of living

-the wild life with Mynediad.

-# Sleeping under the trees

-# And eating their fruit

-# After the selling's over

-# My gratitude I'll show #

-Many of Tecwyn's songs

-became anthems.

-One of these was Y Dref Wen.

-People were interested

-in legends and history...

-..and heroes to sing about.

-At the time...

-..people could identify

-with Y Dref Wen...

-..as with many other similar songs.

-It's not that it's a special song.

-It conveyed something

-that had happened in the past...

-..which people felt

-was repeating itself.

-# Returning home #

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-Y Tebot Piws's members

-rarely performed after the 1980s.

-Some composed

-for leading Welsh artistes.

-At the beginning

-of the millennium...

-..they received an offer

-they couldn't refuse.

-Bryn Terfel invited us

-to take part in the Faenol Festival.

-I didn't want to do it.

-I thought I'd be too nervous.

-We were nervous.

-Many years had passed

-since we'd performed together.

-We weren't worried

-about the chemistry of the band.

-In our subconscious...

-..we knew we still got on

-and that we'd always get on.

-The music worried us.

-Things had moved on

-over the years.

-We didn't know

-whether we could hack it musically.

-They eventually persuaded me.

-It was good and a lot of fun.

-We had a professional band

-behind us, for one thing!

-We didn't have to worry too much.

-# I'm going back

-to Blaenau Ffestiniog

-# Catching the first train

-out of town #

-In August 2002, Tebot Piws

-reformed for one night only.

-They performed

-to more than 3,000 people.

-The reaction was astounding.

-I'll never forget it.

-# A German man shouted,

-"Where are you going?"

-# This is what she shouted back

-# I'm going back

-to Blaenau Ffestiniog

-# Catching the first train

-out of town

-# I'm going back

-to Blaenau Ffestiniog

-# Because it's my seventh heaven #

-We thought it was a one-off,

-and it was brilliant.

-But we really enjoyed it.

-We realized we were still friends.

-We had a great time together.

-People asked us

-to perform here and there.

-We were doing more and more,

-and having fun.

-# The laws of England and News

-At Ten are close friends of ours

-# They tell us what we should do,

-they're Welsh through and through

-# This little country of ours

-has gone mad

-# Black hatred, prison and fines

-# Come with me

-in the middle of the night

-# We'll continue

-to smash down the signs

-# Well, yes, yes, yes, that's it

-# Well, yes, yes, yes, that's it

-# Well, yes, yes, that's it

-# Well, yes, yes, yes, that's it #

-Four years later, in 2008...

-..we were invited to sing in the

-Cann Office Festival in mid Wales.

-We had to hang around for six

-or seven hours after a soundcheck.

-During that time, Stan said...

-.."we'll be celebrating

-our 40th birthday next year."

-We agreed to commemorate

-this special occasion.

-We decided to record an album.

-The initial idea was to record

-an EP of four songs.

-I was prepared to write one song.

-They kept asking for more

-to fill the LP.

-I had to use songs

-I'd intended for other things!

-But it was fun. We had a great time

-recording in Bethesda.

-Twll Du Ifan Saer

-was Tebot Piws's first and last LP.

-They were invited to sing at the

-Cob's 200th birthday celebrations...

-..in Penrhyndeudraeth this year.

-We had discussed

-packing it in for months.

-We received this invitation.

-I wanted it to be our final concert

-and they all agreed.

-We're looking forward

-to this final gig.

-I reckon it'll be quite a night.

-CHEERS

-# The wooden lad

-# Is sixty-four

-# And he has caught

-Dutch elm disease

-# Fat Martha

-# Is even fatter

-# In fact, she is now obese #

-Y Tebot Piws's influence was huge.

-They were punk before punk.

-They were anarchic,

-they challenged the system.

-The stories about them

-are legendary.

-It doesn't matter what Dewi did with

-pigeon dirt on a Llangefni balcony.

-It doesn't matter

-that it isn't true.

-People like to think it's true.

-They inspired me

-to try my hand at singing in Welsh.

-Their contribution is remarkable.

-They wrote lovely songs.

-But with a composer like Ems,

-you'd expect nothing less.

-# Lleucu Llwyd has kicked the bucket

-# And Blaenau is still

-under the rock #

-It's no mean feat

-to compose a folk song.

-A song that's accepted.

-People think Lleucu Llwyd

-is a Welsh folk song.

-Dewi Pws of Y Tebot Piws wrote it.

-If you remember the 1960s or 1970s,

-they say you weren't there.

-I remember, and I was there.

-I'm glad I can remember.

-I was around

-these great individuals.

-Alun Sbardun Huws, Stanley Morgan

-Jones, Dewi Pws Morris...

-..and Emyr Huws Jones.

-We're all old now.

-I think I've lasted alright.

-The last few years

-with Y Tebot Piws...

-..has been a breath of fresh air

-for me personally.

-I'd listen out for the phone...

-..and got excited if Sbardun texted

-because it might be a gig.

-"Are you free?" "Yes," I'd reply,

-never mind where the gig was.

-We've had the chance

-and we've had fun.

-We'll still meet and have fun.

-But we won't sing together again.

-All good things come to an end.

-# There are cracks in the teapot

-# It's celebrating its 40th birthday

-# But there are some who would say

-# The crack was always there #

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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