Ex Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable found dead
Tributes are paid to former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, found dead at his home in south Wales today, as Channel 4 News producer Stuart McTeer remembers his role in the Cool Cymru phenomenon.
Police confirmed the 40-year-old’s body was found at his home at Llwydcoed, Aberdare at 5.30am this morning.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said in a statement: “Cause of death has not yet been established, however, there are no suspicious circumstances at this stage. Next of kin have been informed.”
His mother Mabel, 79, said she was still coming to terms with the news about his death.
“Stuart has travelled all over the world with the band and I have worried myself silly,” she told the Western Mail newspaper.
“He is now settled down and then this has happens. It has not sunk in yet.”
Brother Paul said: “The family has no further comment to make at this stage. It is in the hands of the police.”
Cable had formed the Welsh rock band along with vocalist Kelly Jones and Richard Jones in the village of Cwmaman in 1992.
The group went on to have hits including “Have a Nice Day”, which reached number five in the charts in 2001, and collaborated with Tom Jones on “Mama Told Me Not To Come”.
Terribly sad news about Stuart Cable, such a lovely, warm, funny, talented man. Rob Brydon
Stereophonics also supported U2 and the Rolling Stones in concerts, and were awarded a Brit in 1998 for best new band.
However Cable was sacked as Stereophonics drummer in 2003, following clashes within the band about his commitment.
He later revealed in his autobiography Demons and Cocktails how his life began to unravel because of drugs.
“When we went on tour, coke was never far behind for me and once a show was over I turned into some kind of coke-taking zombie,” he wrote.
“We went from a tight-knit rock band, who were the best of friends, to the two musketeers against the hyperactive junkie clown – and the more we started to drift apart, the more I rebelled and went my own way.”
Stereophonics recruited a new drummer Javier Weyler.
On Saturday, 30,000 people turned out to watch the band play Cardiff City Stadium.
Memories of interviewing Stuart Cable
Stuart Cable was a key figure in the much-hyped Cool Cymru era, writes Channel 4 News producer Stuart McTeer.
It was a period in the late nineties and early 2000s where Wales as a nation confidently shrugged off the predictable clichés and pointed to its own growing successes.
Devolution had shifted power to Wales from London, and the 1999 Rugby World Cup meant the world's eyes were on Cardiff's impressive new Millennium Stadium.
While the increasing success of bands such as Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals and Manic Street Preachers also showed the Welsh culture had moved well beyond Max Boyce and Shaking Stevens.
Stuart Cable, along with childhood friends Kelly Jones and Richard Jones epitomised how Welsh talent had become music's cutting edge.
The boys from Cwmaman won a Brit Award, they became chart stars - while Stuart Cable was a regular on local television programmes and at Welsh showbiz events.
But the group never forgot its Valleys origins.
I interviewed Stereophonics twice. Kelly Jones the opinionated frontman, Richard Jones the quiet but thoughtful bassist, Stuart himself was funny, charming and more than tolerant of the questions asked by a local radio reporter who had little knowledge of his music.
His sacking as band drummer in 2003 was big news in Wales, a recognition that those heady days of Cool Cymru had moved on.
But his continued appearances on XFM radio in Cardiff, Kerrang! Radio and more recently BBC Radio Wales meant he continued to remain a household name.
Cable went on to become a television and radio presenter on Kerrang! Radio, XFM and BBC Radio Wales.
He also formed a new band Killing For Company, which had recorded its debut album Lost Art of Deception, and had been due to perform at Saturday’s high-profile Download rock festival at Donington Park.
Facebook pages have been set up for fans to pay tribute to Cable.
Among those expressing their condolences today was the Welsh comedian Rob Brydon, “Terribly sad news about Stuart Cable, such a lovely, warm, funny, talented man,” he said.
Welsh music stars Manic Street Preachers also expressed their sadness.
In a statement, the band said: “Whenever you met Stuart, you always walked away with a massive smile on your face.
“Such a gigantic personality which was reflected in his drumming.