Tributes have been paid to a Cardigan-born frontman and one of Welsh music’s most influential characters, David R Edwards.

David R Edwards, frontman of Welsh band Datblygu, died at his home in Carmarthen over the weekend, aged 56.

He had been struggling with health issues including epilepsy and diabetes.

His Datblygu bandmate and lon- time friend Patricia Morgan broke the news on social media, saying: “David is no longer with us. He was one of the best friends you could ever have. A huge, generous personality, a bear of a man; his legacy will live on.”

Datblygu, a post-punk/experimental group formed in Cardigan in the 1980s, went on to become one of the most original and influential bands through the medium of the Welsh language.

Datblygu’s record label, Ankst said: “David was widely recognised to be one of the giants of modern Welsh culture whose unique talent as a poet and a musician was instrumental in creating the rich modern culture we enjoy today in Wales.

“Since the 1980s the existence of Datblygu has made it clear that there was much more to Welsh language culture and music than some pale copy

of Anglo-American culture.

“As a poet David existed in hostile opposition to the traditional establishment and with his music he was determined to drag the ‘Sgymraeg’ culture and music screaming into the modern age in the 1980s.

“David formed Datblygu as a schoolboy back in 1982 and

their most recent album - Cwm Gwagle - was released last Summer in the middle of the pandemic.

“Between these two dates David’s voice and words have been a huge inspiration on generations of artists and musicians here in Wales and beyond.”

“David was a loving, faithful, creative, kind, funny and wise individual whose loss to us all will be immense. Without David there would not have

been any Ankst Records or Cool Cymru and without his friendship, talent and love over the decades life here in Wales would have been so much

poorer and duller. His voice and his words will definitely live on and continue to astonish. Our debt to David is enormous and we thank him for

sharing his life and talent with us. Our condolences go out to his family and friends as we deal with this heart-breaking news.

“Nos Da Dave x.”

In his 2009 autobiography - Atgofion Hen Wanc- Dave shared his feelings about Aberteifi, the love he felt for his parents and his musical heroes like Mark E Smith, Captain Beefheart, Frank Sinatra and Ryan Davies.

It also featured his loathing of authority and the disciplinarian nature of school and work, and also the nature of his life-long love/hate relationship with Wales and the Welsh which fed so much of his creativity.

First Minister Mark Drakeford tweeted his tribute to Dave, describing his loss as “incredibly sad news - Wales has lost a cultural giant”.