Stuart Cable goes out with a heavy metal thrash

ROCK star Stuart Cable was laid to rest yesterday to the sound of raucous, high-decibel heavy metal music.

Up to 5,000 fans brought Aberdare, in south Wales, to a standstill as they turned out to pay homage to a local boy. Family and friends packed into St Elvan's Church for a "celebration" of Cable's life.

The former Stereophonics drummer died two weeks ago at his home in the nearby village of Llwydcoed. Police are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests, which may give an insight into the cause of death.

As an acknowledged fan of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Cable once predicted that he would never live to see 40. When he passed the landmark birthday last month, he was widely seen as having put his wild years behind him.

Among those at the funeral were Stereophonics frontman and childhood friend Kelly Jones, comedian Rob Brydon, actor Rhys Ifans and veteran Welsh comic Max Boyce. Ear-splitting music was played live inside the church by High Voltage, a favourite band of Cable .

His body arrived by horse-drawn hearse to general applause. Four black Welsh cobs were led into the churchyard, where the dark wood coffin, decorated with a silver lightning bolt, was unloaded.