Sacked Stereophonics drummer brings in the lawyers

Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable is consulting lawyers about his sacking from the band, he said today.

Cable said he was “stunned” to receive a phone call from lead singer and former best friend Kelly Jones saying he was out.

Jones said yesterday that he had taken the “heartbreaking” decision to axe Cable because of “commitment” issues.

But Cable hit back at the comments, claiming Kelly and bass guitarist Richard Jones had told him to take time off from the US leg of the tour to recover from a minor operation to remove an abscess.

In a statement, Cable said: “I would like to respond to the press release that was issued by Kelly Jones on 25 September 2003.

“I’m a founder member of the Stereophonics and I would like to stress that I did not leave nor ever had any intention of leaving the band.

“As has been published, I underwent a minor operation whilst in the US and was unable to play two of the gigs.

“My doctor subsequently told me I was able to continue the US tour. However, Kelly and Richard suggested I return to the UK to recuperate for the forthcoming UK and European tours.

“Last Monday evening, Richard and Kelly telephoned me from the US and I was stunned to be told that they had decided to sack me.

“I still want to continue to be a part of the Stereophonics and play on the band’s forthcoming UK and European tours.”

He went on: “I am, and have always been, a fully committed member of the Stereophonics and am very upset that Kelly seems to be saying that I was not committed to the band.

“I have now been put in the unfortunate position where I have had to place this matter in the hands of my lawyers.”

Kelly Jones put out a statement on the Welsh band’s website yesterday about Cable, who is dating TV presenter Lisa Rogers.

He said: “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.

“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 time he simply wasn’t there, although it was our fault to allow this situation to develop in the first place.”

And Jones added: “No one member of the band is bigger than our songs.”

Former Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman is standing in for Cable on their current shows.