was he a member of any other band before this?
Yes, Ffa Coffi Pawb.
Gruff Rhys
After playing drums for the band Emily, Rhys found fame in Wales as the front man of Ffa Coffi Pawb. 
where did the phrase the gift that keeps on giving come from UNANSWERABLE what is "the gift that keeps giving"? It is a song by Super Furry Animals. by whom was its video directed? Team D.A.D.D.Y. by whom was the song composed? UNANSWERABLE how was this received by the people? It was generally positive. any particular critic with an opinion on the song? "Billboard" noted that "the group's penchant for sonic flourishes is used to subtle effect" on "The Gift That Keeps Giving" and went on to suggest that the track is representative of "Hey Venus!" as a whole. who designed the cover for this second one? Keiichi Tanaami. who were the members of the band who sang the original song? Gruff Rhys, Huw Bunford, Guto Pryce, Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan. where is the former from? Wales.
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Gruff Rhys [SEP] Ffa Coffi Pawb
As a teenager in 1985, Gruff Rhys played drums for the North Wales band, Machlud, appearing at the Pesda Roc festival in Bethesda. After playing drums for the band Emily, Rhys found fame in Wales as the front man of Ffa Coffi Pawb. Translated, the name means 'everyone's coffee beans', though if said quickly in Welsh, it can sound like 'fuck off everyone' in English and Welsh combined. On signing to Ankstmusik, Ffa Coffi Pawb became one of the leading bands on the Welsh music scene during the Cool Cymru movement, and released three albums – "Clymhalio", "Dalec Peilon" and "Hei Vidal!'.