Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan has left the band after struggling with “personal issues”, it has been announced.
A statement issued on behalf of the group said: “Kasabian have announced today that Tom 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 Leicester-based band, which Meighan co-founded as a student in the late 90s, say they “will not be commenting further”.
Kasabian, who went on an extended break last year, features guitarist Serge Pizzorno, bassist Chris Edwards and drummer Ian Matthews.
They had been due to play a huge return gig in their home city last month, but were left “absolutely brokenhearted” after the coronavirus pandemic led to its cancellation.
Speaking earlier this month following the cancellation, Meighan told Sky News: “I believe things happen for a reason. So I’d imagine we’ll be back next year to play Vicky Park when the restrictions are all gone. But I can’t imagine any rock’n’roll music being played till at least next summer.”
That year, Meighan told Q magazine that he had been struggling with his mental health following the death of a friend and splitting from his partner.
“I was making myself ill, I ain’t gonna lie, my mind was jolted,” he said. “It might have been a build-up from years and years. I wasn’t taking responsibility and it affected everyone around me, horrendous.”
The band released their sixth album, For Crying Out Loud, in 2017.