Dave Gahan has refused to criticise the drug- and drink-gobbling antics of Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty, mindful of his own experiences with the poisons and advice from senior members of the rock fraternity.

When asked what he thought of the pair’s self-destructive impulses, Gahan replied, “Well, you know, they’re young ain’t they?”

“I got some wise words from [Who guitarist] Pete Townsend once. He collared me in a hallway of some awful German TV show and he gave me that knowing look.

“It was just a glance and this was way, way before I’d even thought of giving up booze and drugs. But he gave me that look and now I know that look. He smiled as if to say, ‘Been there, done that. Thank God I don’t have to do that anymore.’

“When that stuff’s working it’s working and you have fun with it, let’s be honest,” he continued.

“Let’s have a drink or whatever. Even drugs can be useful in this world. If you want to go down that road that’s up to you.”

The full interview with Gahan, whose band release new album Sounds Of The Universe on April 20th before embarking on a world tour, can be found in the forthcoming issue of The Stool Pigeon – the free quality music paper available at a pub/venue/record shop near you.