Oasis's Noel Gallagher has admitted that learning to play the guitar helped keep him away from a likely life of crime.

Gallagher, who grew up in the Manchester suburb of Burnage, said most of his childhood friends still had run-ins with the law.

“All the lads on the council estate I grew up with, apart from the ones that have settled down and have kids, they’re all still drug-dealing, going out being fucking idiots,” Gallagher told Total Guitar.

“So, let’s put it this way, there’s one less criminal in Burnage because I picked up the guitar. There’s one less shoplifter in Manchester.”

As previously reported, Oasis are set to headline this summer's Benicassim festival in Spain.

The band will join Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand and Paul Weller, who have already been announced as headliners.

(by Jason Gregory)