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Could the rise of Welsh rock bands like the Super Furry Animals have directly contributed to a “Yes” vote for devolution in Wales in 1997?

Just as the Scottish Nationalists hope their athletes’ proud achievements at the Commonwealth Games will stir a sense of confidence among voters in the independence referendum next month, it has been claimed that young Welsh pop groups like the Super Furries and Catatonia were a catalyst for stirring Welsh consciousness here 17 years ago.

In fact actor, musician and DJ Gareth Potter is adamant the contentious decision by people like Gruff Rhys and Cerys Matthews, to sing in English instead of Welsh had a direct influence on the creation of the Welsh Assembly.

The 49-year-old pop music fanatic has been working with S4C on an autobiographical account of his adventures in Welsh pop from the eighties to the year 2000.

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In Gadael yr 20fed Ganrif (Leaving the 20th Century) which is broadcast this Saturday, Gareth alleges that the music scene bought credibility, pride and confidence back to Wales.

He cites Welsh language bands Datblygu and Anhrefn who were played by John Peel on Radio 1 in the early nineties as part of a generation who promoted Wales to the world, and made it cool.

Groups like the Super Furry Animals, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and Catatonia, who had learnt their craft playing as part of a burgeoning Welsh language scene, then found fame outside Wales singing in English.

Gareth said: “People judge them for singing in English, but they forget about how much they did for the Welsh language.

“They were in shabby bands and without trying they succeeded in changing Wales.

“Something special happened; people who couldn’t speak Welsh came to Welsh gigs.

“And the result of that was the ‘Yes’ vote in the 1997 referendum.”

The formation of the Welsh Government saw momentum continue, with Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics enjoying mainstream success under the “Cool Cymru” movement which peaked in 1999.

But according to Gareth Potter it was his generation and the emergence of bands like Edward H Dafis, and Trwynau Coch which laid the foundations for Cool Cymru, by shaking a Welsh music scene previously dominated by protest songs during the sixties and seventies.

“Musically we were totally different, and we wanted to push the boundaries of the Welsh pop music scene,” he said.

When Gareth was 11, the Sex Pistols came to Caerphilly and when he was 14, he became a member of the punk band, Clustiau Cwn.

“We split up when I was 16, but it was such a laugh to go around Wales gigging.

“There were amazing people around at that time and it was such an interesting time; there were a lot of people from the period who have gone on to do amazing stuff.”

Gareth went on to form part of other innovative bands on the Welsh scene including Traddodiad Ofnus and Ty Gwydr.

In 1997 he was praised for his performance in Ian Rowlands’ one-man show, Marriage of Convenience, which went on to win the ‘Angel’ award in the Edinburgh Festival.

For him though there is one man who has held more influence on the Welsh pop scene than anyone else: Musician, poet, and television producer Geraint Jarman.

“Geraint Jarman was someone I really liked when I started off,” he said.

“He was so supportive, and he was head and shoulders above anything else in Welsh.”

Gadael yr 20fed Ganrif (Leaving the 20th Century) is broadcast on Saturday August 30 at 9pm on S4C.

English subtitles available.