SNOW PATROL - SNOW PATROL FRONTMAN RUBBISHES 'DRINK PROBLEM' STORIES

Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody has criticised tabloid newspapers for reporting that he is battling an addiction to alcohol.

It was reported earlier this month that Lightbody had jeopardised his health through overindulgence but the indie frontman has now clarified the claims, explaining that the Sun newspaper had used quotes which were 18 months old.

"Even that interview was about a time in my life when I was 26, 27, and out of control," he told the BBC.

"The journalist then used that interview to imply that this was an ongoing problem."

The Sun had quoted Lightbody earlier last month as saying: "There was a six month period where I was completely out of control. I was a f*****g mess, but just couldn't see it"

But he has now stressed that he is "sober as a judge".

"I'm… fit, healthy, in good voice, in good spirits, in good mind.

"I enjoy a drink as much as anybody but I'm not an alcoholic."

The band's new album, 'A Hundred Million Suns', is released on October 27th.