Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan exits the band citing "personal issues"

Tom Meighan of Kasabian has announced that he is leaving the band, following a long-term struggle with his personal life and mental health.

In a statement posted to Twitter, the band wrote that Meighan wanted to “concentrate all his energies on getting his life back on track”.

“Tom Meighan is stepping down from Kasabian 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. We will not be commenting further.”

The original 1997 line-up of the band included guitarist and close friend of Meighan's, Sergio Pizzorno, with the group going on to become one of the UK's biggest rock bands.

Kasabian headlined Glastonbury festival in 2015 as well as Reading & Leeds in both 2012 and 2014.

It hasn't yet been confirmed whether Kasabian will continue to tour and record live music following Meighan’s abrupt departure.

The singer has previously been candid about his mental health battles, admitting that he had been “making himself ill” after suffering a breakdown four years ago.

“In every way, 2016 was great for Serge, great for Leicester City, shit for me,” he said.

“I had to sort my head out. My attitude. Stuff I was doing. People I was associating with. Not bad people. I was the one that was bad, I was in the haze. I was very unhappy, just down. You block it out by just carrying on.”

The group's last album, 2017's For Crying Out Loud,, received divisive reviews from critics at the time after Kasabian proclaimed to be "saving guitar music from the abyss".

Meighan confirmed that plans for Kasabian’s seventh album were in the early stages last month.

“We need a seventh baby,” Meighan told Sky News. “We’re going to try and make a new record as soon as we can but we can’t really do anything while we’re restricted. Serge has been writing songs for Kasabian so it’s all good.”

Speaking about his solo material, he added: “It’s very autobiographical, like the story of my life. It’s kind of...heartbreaking. Well, not heartbreaking, just to the core, you know. Very real.”

Meighan described the band as “solid”, despite Pizzorno progressing with a solo career last year.

“And you know, when Sergio did his thing last year, everyone was like, ‘how do you feel about it?’ I love it. Why wouldn’t I? And his music was incredible...He’s doing his thing, I’m doing mine, but Kasabian are still solid,” Meighan said.

The band were scheduled to play a huge homecoming gig in Leicester’s Victoria Park this summer, but Covid-19 caused its unfortunate cancellation.

Tom Meighan is stepping down from Kasabian 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. We will not be commenting further.

— KasabianHQ (@KasabianHQ) July 6, 2020