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Story: Jack Foley
WELSH rockers, The Stereophonics, have parted company with their
drummer, Stuart Cable, over 'commitment issues'.
The shock news is sure to place a question mark over the future
of the band and comes as a big blow to a hitherto successful year,
which saw them release the critically-acclaimed You've Gotta
Go There, To Come Back album.
Cable was a founding member of the band, but, according to a
statement issued by lead singer, Kelly Jones, there had been problems
dating back to 2001, which had led to the decision that he would
no longer be part of the group.
The statement explains: "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.
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"We've tried resolving them but things stayed the same.
Myself and Richard [Jones – bassist] 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."
The band will be using onetime Black Crowes drummer, Steve Gorman,
as a replacement for Cable, and he has already filled in during
a series of recent US tour dates - where, officially, the band
had claimed their former member had been unable to perform due
to ill health.
However, there are no plans, at this stage, to replace Cable
as a band member, according to Jones, who described his friend
as 'irreplaceable'.
"No one member of the band is bigger than our songs,"
he added, before pledging: "It's a rock and roll band and
the upcoming shows will be rocking."
The friendship between Jones and Cable dates back to their childhood,
when they lived in the same street in Cwmaman, South Wales.
The Stereophonics were originally formed as the Tragic Love
Company, but only landed a record deal after changing their name.
However, they have not looked back since the release of debut
single, Word Gets Around, in 1997, and even won a coveted
Brit award, in 1998, for best new band.
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