Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones Once Got A Noise Complaint For Having Tom Jones Visit

In a new interview with BBC Radio 2, Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones recalled the time he had Tom Jones visit his flat, leading to a noise complaint from a confused neighbour.

Speaking with host Zoe Ball last week, Kelly explained that he and Tom have known each other since 1997, and have since become close friends. So the story goes, Tom performed a Jools Holland show with Stereosonics’ late drummer Stuart Cable, after which they went back to Kelly’s flat to unwind. “We were having a drink in the house, and it was going on a bit,” Kelly said in the interview, “and we were singing and stuff. And the guy [who lives in the flat above Kelly’s] knocked on the door and said, ‘Look, I’ve got a really early appointment in the morning. Can you turn the Tom Jones records down a bit?’

“And Stuart comes to the door, and he goes, ‘What’s the problem over here then?’ And he goes, ‘Look, I’ve got to get to sleep in the morning, can you just turn down the Tom Jones records?’ And we said, ‘We’re not playing Tom Jones records, Tom Jones is in my kitchen singing.’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, right.’ I go, ‘Come and have a look.’ And he sees Tom in the kitchen, and he goes, ‘Ah right, fair enough. Have a good night.’ And then I close the door, and Tom goes, ‘That’s the problem, see? When you have a flat, there’s always somebody above you who’s got something to say.’”

Tom and Kelly have long been involved in each other’s projects – most recently, in June of 2022, Stereophonics performed with Tom for a concert aired live on multiple BBC channels. It took place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, where Tom’s 1968 classic Delilah was recently banned from being sung by choirs.

Stereophonics released their 12th album, Oochya!, in March of 2022. Tom on the other hand released his 41st album, Surrounded By Time, in April 2021. The former band last toured Australia in 2018 (when The Music’s Bryget Chrisfield opined that Kelly has “certainly got swag”), while Tom last hit our shores in 2016. According to a review from The Music’s Dan Cribb, “[Tom’s] energy and vocals didn't fault once during a set that spanned countless hits across blues, country, rock, gospel, jazz and more”