Stereophonics sack drummer

Chart stars Stereophonics have parted company with drummer Stuart Cable, one of the band’s founding members, it was announced today.

Frontman Kelly Jones said the musician – one of his childhood friends – had been sacked because of “commitment” issues since the band released their third LP.

Jones said losing Cable was “heartbreaking“, but attempts to resolve the situation over many months had failed.

The band – riding the success of fourth album You Gotta Go There To Come Back - will continue as a duo of Jones and bass played Richard Jones. A stand-in drummer, Steve Gorman, formerly of the Black Crowes, will be helping out.

Cracks had appeared as the band played in the US with Gorman having to fill in for Cable on several dates. Officially the band said he had been unable to perform because of ill health.

Jones said today: “Me and Stuart started a band when I was 12. Emotionally to me this is heartbreaking, I love him like a brother, but commitment-wise there have been issues since Just Enough Education To Perform.

“We’ve tried resolving them but things stayed the same. Myself and Richard miss Stuart already, a band is like a gang and a lot of the time he simply wasn’t there, although it was our fault to allow this situation to develop in the first place.

“No one will be replacing Stuart as a band member, Stuart is irreplaceable, but Steve Gorman will continue to sit in on drums for the upcoming shows.

“No one member of the band is bigger than our songs. It’s a rock and roll band and the coming shows will be rocking.”

Cable had often seemed a little apart from the rest of the band, happier to clown around than his two bandmates. He also embraced the world of showbiz more than the others by fronting his own TV show and having a celebrity girlfriend - TV presenter Lisa Rodgers.

The band – from Cwmaman in south Wales – had been playing in the US without Cable. Writing on their website they explained his absence as a health condition which required surgery.

They added: “Your guess is as good as mine as to who will be doing the rest of the shows here, but one thing is certain – the shows will go on.”

Kelly Jones and Cable lived in the same street during their childhood.

Stereophonics originally formed as Tragic Love Company, but landed a record deal after changing their name, and releasing debut album Word Gets Around in 1997, then scoring a string of top 40 hits.

They landed a Brit Award in 1998 for best new band.