WRITS AWARDS CANCELLED AGAIN
6th January 4pm Posted by: Ross
The first Welsh Music Awards - The Writs - have been cancelled for a second time. Cerys Matthews is nominated for "Best Female Solo Artist". There is still no word of when - or if - the awards will take place.

Merry Christmas everyone - hope you had a fantastic festive period!

WELSH MUSIC ONLINE MAG "HONK" INTERVIEWS OWEN
13th December 7pm Posted by: Ross
Welsh Music website "Honk" has published an interview with former Catatonia guitarist Owen Powell. In the article Owen discusses the relationship with Cerys and the boys as they came towards the split, and what his and the other band members plans are. You can read it either in the articles section, or by visiting Honk's website here.

In other news the first annual "Writ" awards, Wales' rival to the well established Brit Awards, is now only a month away, with Cerys nominated for Best Female Solo Artist along side Charlotte Church (favourite), Bonny Tyler and Sian James. Rumours are already circulating about whether or not Cerys will make her first high profile appearance at the awards since the band's break up. The awards take place on January 14th 2002 at the Cardiff International Arena. Tickets are available by calling 02920 22 44 88.

"CERYS BACK IN STUDIO" SAYS NME.COM
8th December 8pm Posted by: Ross
Cerys Matthews has gone back into a recording studio for the first time since Catatonia's split. She is recording the theme song to the new Welsh-language childrens series "Sali Mali". Read the full article here. She had already recorded the theme some time ago, but this time was recording extended versions in both English and Welsh. The new series will not be screened until next year.

CATATONIC COMMUNITY FORUM SHUTS DOWN
4th November 8.30pm Posted by: Ross
The Catatonic Community Forum has been shut down due to the fact that the providers - Revamp.net - are closing. The forum didn't enjoy much success and so I have decided it isn't worth putting in the work to start a new forum. If you are still interested in chatting with Catatonia fans, why not try the old board?

No more news on the Cerys/Catatonia/Wadge front, though Cerys is up for solo awards despite having not yet launched her career. Keep checking back for more news.

CATATONIA LESS CERYS, CAN IT WORK?
17th October 8.30pm Posted by: Ross
News piece of the week this week: Catatonia to reform without Cerys? ICWales has reported that the boys may be on the verge of getting together again to work with former Drama student Amy Wadge. She is said to have a distinctive voice, and released a single last year. Read the full article here.

NEWS SITE OF THE MONTH, GUILDFORD GOES BANKRUPT
9th October 8.30pm Posted by: Ross
News piece of the week comes from Guildford, the festvial which Catatonia were due to headline this year only to pull out days before. The festival has been declared bankrupt, and organisers have blamed Catatonia and their management for lost late ticket sales due to the lack of a headlining act. Pity there isn't a band anymore to answer these accusations...

New site of the Month this month is WayBeyondBlue.com. Last month Cat - Refuelled shed the spotlight on the community's newest super site, Way Beyond Blue, but it wasn't the first site to come under that name. WayBeyondBlue.com has been around for quite some time and is always a good source of news and information. Well worth the visit.

FUTURE OF CAT - REFUELLED, OTHER STUFF
25th September 4.30pm Posted by: Ross
Well it's been five days since Catatonia officially split up and there has been little further news. Catatonia.com hasn't even updated to tell fans of the split, very fitting for a site which has never served the needs of Catatonia fans. NME.com promised further details Friday, but these have yet to materialise.

I have made the decision that Catatonia - Refuelled will stay open, however as I am starting Uni I won't be updating as often. The fact that there will be little or no news Catatonia wise from now on means that until Cerys releases her solo album, the main updates will be articles. This is where I need everyone's help. I NEED you all to send me as many articles or other pieces of Cat info as you can. You guys can keep this site alive.

However I will update as often as I can, and if I hear ANYTHING Catatonia or Cerys related, I will put it up here. I may even redesign and relaunch the site when Cerys hits the big time again!

Speak to you all soon. Ross.

CATATONIA CONFIRM SPLIT
21st September 3pm Posted by: Ross
It's all over. This morning, following "The Sun"'s report that Cerys Matthews had left Catatonia, the band's official spokesperson confirmed that the band have split up. NME had the following to say:

"CATATONIA CONFIRM SPLIT

CATATONIA have officially split, NME.COM can confirm. The band's official spokesperson has confirmed this morning (September 21) that Cerys Matthews has left the band.

NME.COM understands that the decision was made at a meeting last week, and follows the relatively disappointing performance of comeback single 'Stone By Stone', which got to Number 15, and the album 'Paper Scissors Stone', which charted at Number 7 but failed to sustain sales. Promotional activity around the album's release was cancelled due to Matthews' ongoing health problems, while their UK tour and a handful of festival appearances were also scrapped.

According to today's Sun newspaper, Matthews, who had been suffering from "anxiety and exhaustion", left a London rehab clinic last week before travelling to Wales to break the news to bandmates Owen Powell, Paul Jones and Aled Richards."

To say the least the community is in mourning, myself included. I will be unable to update the site until at the earliest Saturday evening, however I would recommend to any fans still looking for news that they visit NME.com regularly, as they have promised more details later on Friday.

I am yet to start thinking about the future of this site, I will update you all when I have made a decision.

"CERYS KO'S CATATONIA" SAYS SUN
21st September 11.20am Posted by: Ross
Hi Everyone, first of all I'd like to apologise for the lack of updates over the past two weeks, I'm starting Uni and have a lot to organise. Couple this with the fact that there has been a blanket over any news stories for Catatonia.

Today's big story comes from the dubiously reliable source The Sun newspaper, who are claiming Cerys has walked out on Catatonia. Bare in mind that the News of the World reported Catatonia had split over a month ago, usually these stories are compeltely false. But here's the article anyway.

"CERYS KO'S CATATONIA

CERYS MATTHEWS has walked out on Catatonia - just days after quitting booze rehab. The singer left her London clinic and travelled to Wales to tell bandmates it was all over.

Reformed party animal Cerys has quit drinking alcohol and pals say she is doing well. She spent six weeks being treated for boozing and is already writing songs for a planned solo career. She wants to try out different styles and has been working with Henry Priestman, the man behind 80s chart-toppers The Christians.

She was heartbroken when she told old pals Owen Powell, Paul Jones and Aled Richards her decision. One friend said: "It has done her the world of good and she's sorting herself out. She was partying too hard and she knows it but she's not drinking now.

"Cerys did a lot of thinking in the clinic and has decided she wants to pursue solo projects.

"Being in the band was killing her. When she got out she told the rest of the group the news. It's a sorry end to a band who could have been massive."

The band have had two No1 albums International Velvet and Equally Cursed And Blessed. Her record company Warner insisted that Cerys was being treated for exhaustion and a recurring asthma complaint.

Catatonia's last single Stone By Stone flopped and only reached No15 in the charts."

WayBeyondBlue.com
Looks: 3/5
Content: 3/5
- WayBeyondBlue.com has been around for some time and is always a good site to have in your bookmarks. With many sites no doubt falling to the lack of news about these days, WBB.com continues to service the needs of the Cat Community.