Cable: Rock star who became a chat show personality

Describing the situation as "heartbreaking", singer Kelly Jones said attempts to sort things out over many months had failed following the release of the band's third album Just Enough Education to Perform, in 2001.

But a statement on the band's website on Thursday, was news to Cable.

Close friend Owen Money said he called Cable the minute he heard and asked him: "What's all this about you leaving the Stereos?'. But it was a complete shock to him - he knew nothing about it."

"He said journalists had phoned him but that he didn't know what was happening. As far as Stuart was concerned it wasn't true and was going to contact his manager in America."

Meanwhile, the band's record V2 and the band's spokesman in Wales both confirmed that the Stereophonics and Stuart Cable had "parted company".

A band is like a gang and a lot of the time he simply wasn't there Kelly Jones

Over past two years Cable has expanded his repertoire to become a television personality in his own right with his own late-night BBC Wales chat show Cable TV.

His place in the band is being temporarily filled by former Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, who has already filled in for Cable on several occasions during a tour of the US.

The band had said he was unable to perform through ill-health.

Jones 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 since Just Enough Education To Perform.

'Stuart is irreplaceable'

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

He said no-one would replace Cable as a band member.

"Stuart is irreplaceable, but Steve Gorman will continue to sit in on drums for the upcoming shows.

"No one member of the band is bigger than our songs. It's a rock and roll band and the coming shows will be rocking," he added.

Jones and Cable started a band when they were 12

Cable has made the move into television presenting with two series of his own show Cable TV on BBC1 Wales and the digital channel BBC 2W.

Celebrities such as fellow Welsh artists Cerys Matthews and Tom Jones have appeared on the chat show.

A third series of the show is planned for 2004.

Jones and Cable started a band, Tragic Love Company, while living in the same street as children in Cwmaman, south Wales.

It evolved into the Stereophonics, and they released their debut album Word Gets Around in 1997, winning a music industry Brit award in 1998 for best new band.

The band have risen to become one of the UK's most popular, headlining Glastonbury 2002 and sharing top billing at the V2002 festival.

Earlier this year, the band released their fourth album You Gotta Go There To Come Back.

The band is due to play before 70,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in December.