Stereophonics' Kelly Jones' Pays Tribute to Former Drummer Stuart Cable

Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones has expressed shock at the premature death of his former drummer Stuart Cable. As reported on Spinner, Cable was found dead at his home Aberdare, South Wales in the early hours of Monday, June 7. He was 40 years old.

Speaking of hearing the tragic news, the singer-guitarist explained to the BBC that, despite firing Cable from the band for a reported lack of commitment, the pair had patched up their differences and remained friends.

"Me and Stuart have been speaking for the last five years," he explained. "Stuart would be the first to admit what happened with the split and we've always spoken since then."

He continued, "We've always been friends. He rang me up on Saturday and wished me luck for the gig in Cardiff and his girlfriend asked me to come to his 40th birthday. I spoke to him on his 40th and he said, 'I never thought I'd make it to 40' and I said, 'You'll live to 100,' so that was one of the last things that we said to each other."

Jones said that he and his former bandmate would always spend Christmas Day together and share a drink. "I'd buy him a bottle of Newcastle Brown and he'd buy me a lager. I can't even begin to tell you what we've been through together as friends and bandmates."