STATUS QUO have named Leon Cave as their new drummer after Matt Letley bowed out following a 13-year stint.

Multi-intrumentalist Cave has been a member of Francis Rossi’s solo band and an in-demand session drummer, guitarist and bassist.

Cave is described as “a fast learner of new material with the ability to play across all genres of music.”

Last year Letley announced his decision to move on. He was scheduled to make his final appearance at the O2 Arena in London on December 19, then stayed on to cover the band’s Australian tour in February this year.

He said: “It’s been a fantastic journey – but I have decided that now is the right time for me to leave Quo and move on to something new.”

But he denied the move was anything to do with the band’s Frantic Four reunion shows, played by Rossi and Rick Parfitt alongside founding members Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan.

The last of those concerts, in London March 17, was filmed for a later DVD release.

The veterans released their feature film Bula Quo! in July and tour the UK in December with 10cc.