ASH - WHEELER 'TOO PROFESSIONAL' TO GET HIGH

ASH star TIM WHEELER is turning is back on drink and drugs to preserve his voice. The Northern Irish rockers took the British music scene by storm in the 1990s but singer/guitarist Wheeler confesses his success was accompanied by huge drink and drug binges. However, the 30-year-old has been forced to curb his hedonistic lifestyle recently in a bid to resurrect his career. He says, "I've done the whole drugs and booze thing but I'm more chilled out these days. I'm far more professional when it comes to playing shows because I have to look after my voice. It's so hard when you're the singer because your voice is so sensitive to what you put into your body. You learn that the hard way. "We really burned the candle at both ends for a long time, but we've got higher priorities nowadays."