Feeder 'still emotional over Lee suicide'

Feeder have claimed that they still get emotional thinking about former bandmate Jon Lee, who committed suicide in 2002.

Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose kicked off their UK tour last month with replacement drummer Karl Brazil, but admitted that they miss Lee's presence.

"Jon is always going to be with us, especially this tour as it's the first time we've done a three-piece since he passed away," Nicholas told The Sun.

"For me, it has been emotional. The chemistry between a three-piece band is a very bizarre thing, it's a bit like three kids in a family. I think about Jon a lot still."

Nicholas insisted that the group would still be going strong if Lee was alive and revealed that he keeps in contact with his parents.

"Jon was a really great guy and so full of life, that's why the whole thing frustrates me. I wish he was still here," he said.

"I know if he was still around we would still be going... It's a shame, he was a really good guy and he was also a great drummer. I think anyone who has come in to fill Jon's shoes in some way has had a big job to do.

"We stay in touch with Jon's mum and dad and it's always emotional to talk to them. But life goes on and as Taka said, I look at old clips and have good memories of it. You put it behind you and you have to move on."

Feeder recently set up their own label Big Teeth Music and confirmed that their first release will be the Renegades EP.