Bob Dylan interview reveals singer's heroin addiction

A previously-unheard Bob Dylan interview from 1966 has revealed that he overcame heroin addiction in the 1960s.

The singer, who turns 70 this week, revealed in the interview that he became addicted to the drug while living in New York but subsequently got clean. It had previously been rumoured that he had taken the drug but he had not confirmed this on record.

According to BBC News Dylan said: "I kicked a heroin habit in New York City. I got very, very strung out for a while, I mean really, very strung out. And I kicked the habit. I had about a $25-a-day habit and I kicked it."

Dylan gave the interview on board a private plane to Denver, Colarado in March 1966 after a concert in Nashville, Tennessee to friend Robert Shelton. But the details of the interview have not come to light until now.

Elsewhere on the tape the singer revealed he has contemplated suicide. He said: "Death to me is nothing. Death to me means nothing as long as I can die fast. Many times I've known I could have been able to die fast, and I could have easily gone over and done it. I'll admit to having this suicidal thing, but I came through."