Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt
"Like any kind of big movement, it just kind of spawns a lot of generic bands who are jumping on that scene and I think Britpop was full of that," Coombes tells Gigwise, remember Britpop. "I think a couple of cool bands came from it and a couple of cool records came out of it, and it was a really positive time for guitar music and rock n' roll."
Watch our video interview with Gaz Coombes below
When you think of all of the shiny faces that donned a guitar and filled the airwaves and the bright citrus-coloured TV shows of the '90s, the survivors are few and far between. Fortunately, Supergrass only ever lived on their own terms, and achieved a greatness separate to any genre or era.
Now, Gaz Coombes is enjoying a whole new lease of life. The hunger for his return rose from the desire to hear his unique voice and take on life once again, but the momentum since the release of his latest solo album Matador comes from its sheer class. He's still loaded with ideas, and unfortunately well beyond the point of nostalgia.
"I remember first hearing Supersonic on The Word in '94," he went on. "I was like 16, just starting out in a band and it absolutely blew me away - it blew my tits off. I thought that was a real breath of fresh air, hearing Oasis play like that and have that attitude. It was kind of the launch pad, and I think that's something really special; it was a really important moment in music, so when we did I Should Coco it really connected at that point in history.
Coombes continues: "I think that a lof of the stuff that came about around that time sounds pretty dated now. It hasn't dated very well, and you get that 'laddy' kind of culture which I just find a little strange, and not particularly attractive."
Watch our interview with Gaz Coombes below
It's that calibre he carries, that has found him a whole new audience entirely - as anyone who has caught him during festival season can testify.
"A lot of people have come up to me after shows and been like 'I was never really into Supergrass but I loved the gig and loved the record' and I don't know what that really means to me necessarily - I guess it's cool, especially coming from a fan rather than anyone else. That means more, it validates it," he admits. "I've been really pleased with how little people have been shouting out for Supergrass songs.
When pushed on the world's reaction to Matador, he replies "Praise and criticism, it's all just a weird thing that happens. I still have to take it all with a pinch of salt, but I guess it's cool to have it recognised as a cool record.
"You've got to have a bit of confidence. I told myself that whatever happens, I've just had a blast making this record. Anything positive is a bonus. I was just really happy that people got the record without connecting it to any baggage from the past or any preconceptions or comparing it to Supergrass all the time - just seeing it at face value."
Matador by Gaz Coombes is out now. His upcoming tour dates are below. For tickets and information, visit here.
