Musicians shocked by death of 40-year-old rock drummer

The 40-year-old musician, who was sacked from the band in 2003, was discovered early yesterday. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Fellow Welsh musicians Manic Street Preachers were among those who expressed their shock as they praised the larger-than-life character.

"Whenever you met Stuart, you always walked away with a massive smile on your face," the band said. "Such a gigantic personality which was reflected in his drumming. He really will be missed.

Since he was axed from Stereophonics – which he started with childhood friend, frontman Kelly Jones – Cable had become a radio presenter, with his most recent BBC Radio Wales broadcast just two days ago.

And he had been due to perform at this weekend's Download Festival at Donington Park with his new band Killing For Company.

Cable – known for his mop of shaggy, curly hair – had talked about how his drug use saw him become estranged from the rest of the band before he was given the boot.

In his autobiography Demons And Cocktails, he said: "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.

"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."

However he is thought to have calmed down in recent years.

South Wales Police confirmed that the sudden death of a 40-year-old man at an address in Llwydcoed, Aberdare, at about 5.30am yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon, a police spokeswoman said that while the cause of death had not been established, they did not consider it suspicious.

Cable's mother Mabel, 79, said she was still coming to terms with the news.

"Stuart has travelled all over the world with the band and I have worried myself silly," she said. "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."