Super Furry Animals Frontman Ends Solo Run

Welshman Gruff Rhys is best known for fronting psychedelic indie rockers Super Furry Animals and things will probably stay that way due to the fact the tall, dark haired singer is killing off his solo project. "I'm going to retire as a solo artist after the American tour," Rhys tells Spinner, referring to a jaunt he is currently on in support of his solo album 'Candylion.' "It's going to be the last 'Candylion' tour and then I'm going to concentrate on the band for a few years."

In fact, the very last Gruff Rhys 'Candylion' show ever, will take place Wednesday in Los Angeles. It won't however be the last time America hears Rhys. For starters, there's the new Super Furry Animals album, 'Hey Venus,' due out in January 2008, which he hopes will be followed by a U.S. tour. There's also a collaboration with Boom Bip -- Neon Neon, which features vocals from L.A. transplant, Har Mar Superstar.

"He's got an amazing voice. He can reach places I can't reach," Rhys says of the pint-sized, often spandex-clad crooner. "I think that's going to be out next year. It's a concept album about John Deloreon the car guy!"

In the meantime, if fans manage to head down to Rhys last two solo dates -- October 2 in San Francisco or October 3 in L.A., they are in for a treat, even if it is short-lived. Rhys live set features just him and Lisa Jen on stage. "We're gonna be a duo," he notes. "We've got all kinds of fancy equipment. We've got a sampler, we've got bongos, a guitar and some percussion."

And, if fans are lucky, there will be an after party should promoters make him a DJ offer (hint: his rider wish would be a dart board set). Rhys did after all pack his DJ gear. "I play a lot of 1960s and 1970s Mediterranean psychedelic funk," he says of his behind the box choices. "It's like Turkish and Greek and Lebanese and Italian and Catalan music. It goes down pretty good."