Rock group Feeder are to return to the stage with a new drummer for the first time since the suicide of founder member Jon Lee.

Lee, 33, took his life in Miami in January, just as the Welsh band were enjoying their biggest chart successes.

Jon Lee hanged himself in Miami

Now remaining members Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose are working with friend and ex-Skunk Anansie drummer Mark Richardson.

They plan a secret warm-up show for the coming weeks in advance of their August Carling Festival appearance at Reading, according to an e-mail sent to fan club members.

Formed in Newport during the 90s, Feeder experienced a steady rise from alternative notoriety and moved to London to exploit that success.

Recently, they had hits with Buck Rogers and Just A Day from the Echo Park album.

But their success was not enough to stop Lee from taking his own life.

The band had a top five hit with Buck Rogers

He hanged himself on 7 January in the Florida city where he lived with his wife and young son.

Nicholas said the remainder of the band was "devastated" but vowed to carry on making music.

Their return to the stage, with Richardson in tow, was set for the Carling Festival.

But reports said an e-mail to fans reveals details of a secret gig in the run-up to the Carling festival pairing will be unveiled shortly.

Feeder will headline Reading's main tent on 23 August and be at Leeds the following day, according to the band's website.

They will play Glasgow's Gig In The Park event immediately after on 25 August.

Watch Feeder play Buck Rogers

Nicholas recently told Steve Lamacq of BBC Radio One: "It just seemed appropriate really.

"It's going to be quite a difficult show for us, obviously, for a number of reasons, but I think it will be a good chance to get back on the road and to let people know there is still life left in Feeder."

But any decision to replace Lee behind the drumkit could prove more difficult to make.

Nicholas earlier hinted at the band's work with Richardson, but told Lamacq: "Obviously it's important to make sure we've got the right chemistry.

"It is going to be very hard to find anyone to fill Jon's shoes.

"But, at the same time, the music is still in the same sort of vein and, as long as we can find somebody who can play all the old stuff, I can't see it being a problem."