Molko Defends Drummer Sacking

Devotees of the British group fumed when Hewitt left after 11 years, accusing Molko of breaking up the original line-up.

But the singer insists tensions within the group had grown so severe a change was badly needed.

He tells Music-News, "I think the die-hards took it quite badly and I think there was a certain amount of anger surrounding Steve Hewitt's departure. A lot of die-hards had become very attached to what they considered to be the classic line-up, but really (by that point) we were nothing more than a rudderless ship with a hole in it."