"Part of me doesn't really care any more," he said. "The stage I am at now is very close to how I was at 21.

"I've learned how to deal with the ups and downs of being in a band – people liking you, people not liking you, how you look on a magazine cover, how everyone else thinks you should behave.

"All that is not in my head any more – it's gone."

Between 1997 and 2005, the Welsh three-piece released five studio albums, scoring 19 UK Top 20 hits, selling millions of albums and touring relentlessly.

Something had to give, and a break was forced on Jones last year when he took time out to deal with an illness in his family.

"I was at the point in my life where I needed to break the cycle of album-tour-album-tour," he said.

"It wasn't creative, it wasn't refreshing, it wasn't anything. When
you're constantly moving, you don't have time to look down, so you don't know what you're doing really.

"You take people for granted every day until something goes wrong.
"Funerals might be the only time you talk to your family all year."

Now he and his band are back, and after the enforced hiatus, their reunion was an explosive affair.

When singer and guitarist Jones got together with bassist Richard Jones (no relation) and drummer Javier Weyler, the songs just started to flow.

The result is Pull The Pin, the 'Phonics sixth studio album, and one the band feel takes them back to where it all began.

The songs were pouring out of Jones, so much so that he simultaneously knocked out his first solo album, Only The Names Have Been Changed.

Pull The Pin brings together the rockiest and most melodic aspects of Stereophonics, and Jones is proud of it.

"I think we've achieved the best parts of the band over the last 10 years on one record," he said.

"The energy captured reminds me of when we started. It is the sound of a band happy to be back together."

Stereophonics are taking the album on the road throughout this month, with The Enemy as special guests.

The tour includes a date at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on Thursday, November 22.

Tickets, priced £28.50, are on sale now from (0844) 493 6666.