SHOCK AS MEIGHAN QUITS BAND
has shocked the music world by quitting
The lead vocalist has left the Leicester rockers to get his “life back on track” and it sounds like Serge Pizzaro and co intend to continue without him.
The news was confirmed in a statement from Kasabian yesterday that read: “Tom
TOM Meighan Kasabian.
AC/DC
BON Scott died from acute alcohol poisoning in 1980, so they turned to Geordie
Brian Johnson and released career-defining LP Back In Black in tribute to him.
Pink Floyd
IN 1967 Syd Barrett’s ailing health saw Dave Gilmour join and inspire huge album success. In 1983 Gilmour became the band’s main man when Roger Waters left to pursue a solo career.
Queen
FREDDIE Mercury passed
Meighan is stepping down from the band by mutual consent.
“Tom has struggled with personal issues that have affected his behaviour for quite some time and now wants to concentrate all his energies on getting his life back on track.”
The singer thanked fans for their support but has been open about his ADHD and anxiety over the years, while in 2016 he had a breakdown after splitting from a longtime partner and mourning the death of a friend.
Tom said: “In every way, 2016 was great for Serge, great for Leicester City, s**t for me.
“I had to sort my head out. My attitude. Stuff I was doing. I was very unhappy, just down.
“I was making myself ill, my
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IF Kasabian do decide to continue without their original lead vocalist, they will be in good rock’n’roll company. Here’s a look at other bands that have changed vocalists and continued to enjoy success…
away in 1991 and from 2004-8 they turned to Free singer Paul Rodgers. More recently Adam Lambert has fronted Queen with greater success.
Black Sabbath
WHEN Ozzy Osbourne
quit to focus on a solo career in 1979, multioctave singer Ronnie James Dio joined and, arguably, they became a much better heavy metal band.
Fleetwood Mac
was the original frontman, but
Lindsey Buckingham is arguably their greatest male vocalist. He himself was replaced by Neil Finn two years ago.
Genesis
PETER Gabriel fronted the band’s prog era but in 1975 drummer Phil Collins decided to have a go at singing and they became one of the biggest bands in the world. mind was jolted. It might have been a build-up from years and years. I wasn’t taking responsibility and it affected everyone around me.”
Kasabian had been due to headline a huge homecoming show in Leicester’s Victoria Park this summer until the pandemic struck.
More recently Tom has been busy talking up a solo project, but never indicated it spelt the end of Kasabian.
He revealed: “It’s very autobiographical, like the story of my life. It’s kind of heartbreaking but Kasabian are still solid.”
Yesterday Tom confirmed he is in a “really good place now” and has been having an “amazing lockdown”, adding: “I’ve been planting seeds and stuff in the garden. It’s kind of like going back to old times.”
Kasabian are one of the UK’S biggest bands, with six Top 10 albums to their name, and in 2014 they headlined Glastonbury.
Guitarist Serge is the band’s songwriter and earlier this year he told me he their new album was under way.
Despite his own successful solo project last year, Serge seems intent on continuing Kasabian as a band – but not with Tom.