When Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan was arrested and convicted of assaulting his then-fiancee Vikki Ager in June 2020, many thought that it spelled the end for the Leicester rock band.
However, the four-piece decided to continue, with songwriter and guitarist Serge Pizzorno taking over lead vocals, and they are releasing a new album called 'The Alchemist's Euphoria' this August.
In a new interview with The Guardian, Pizzorno has spoken about what it was like in the aftermath of Meighan's arrest for assault. The then-frontman grabbed Ager - whom he has since married - by the throat, dragged her by the ankles and struck her repeatedly. He was sentenced to 200 hours' community service. His departure from the band was announced less than 24 hours before he appeared in court to plead guilty to assault.
“The summer when Tom left was absolutely heartbreaking,” he said. “It felt like leaving home and coming back and seeing it burnt down, walking round the ashes, seeing old pictures and artefacts and picking things up and sifting through the destruction. It was an intense time.”
He added: "With Tom, all we ever tried was love and support. There were times when we needed professional help – that was all taken care of. But when we were finally made aware of the incident, he’d crossed the line at that point."
Meighan has since embarked on a solo career, while 'The Alchemist's Euphoria' is released on August 5th.
