Stuart Cable
The thunderous, charismatic drummer who powered Stereophonics' rise from Welsh pubs to global stages before reinventing himself as a beloved broadcaster.
1970–2010 (age 40)·Welsh drummer and broadcaster·Birthday: May 19·Generation X
Biography
Stuart Cable was the engine room of one of Britain's biggest rock bands, but his story is one of two distinct acts. Born in the village of Cwmaman, he formed Stereophonics with childhood friends Kelly Jones and Richard Jones, his powerful, no-nonsense drumming providing the backbone for their anthemic sound. The band's ascent from working-class Wales to headlining stadiums was meteoric, fueled by Cable's larger-than-life personality as much as his playing. After a sudden departure from the band in 2003, he carved out a second, equally successful career in Welsh media. His natural wit and everyman charm made him a popular television presenter and radio host, connecting with audiences in a new, intimate way. His life, tragically cut short in 2010, remains a tale of raw talent and genuine reinvention.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Stuart was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stuart Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Stuart's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Was the original drummer for Stereophonics, playing on their first five studio albums including the multi-platinum 'Performance and Cocktails'.
- Co-presented the BBC Wales music show 'The Pop Factory' and later hosted his own award-winning radio show on BBC Radio Wales.
- Authored a candid autobiography, 'Cable: The Autobiography', detailing his life in and out of the band.
Did You Know?
He was a trained hairdresser before Stereophonics took off.
His radio show on BBC Radio Wales won a Sony Radio Academy Award.
He was a lifelong supporter of the Welsh rugby union team.
“The drums are the heartbeat of the band; you have to keep it solid.”
