Damon Albarn took heroin 'for years' in the recording studio

Damon Albarn has spoken openly (again) about his former drug use, revealing a good deal of his music was recorded while under the influence of heroin.

The former Blur star and newly solo artist has caused controversy with his brutally honest recollections of his time as a drug user, previously saying that he found heroin helped him to be 'creative', but has now revealed, in a new interview with GQ magazine, that his use of the drug lasted for a number of years.

"I used to go to work and take heroin in the studio and then stop when I came home," he tells the magazine. "That’s why I say it’s five days a week and two days off, and that’s how I existed for several years."

He also hints that the period he was referring to was his time working on Gorillaz music with Jamie Hewlett, adding: "We probably wouldn’t have been able to create a record like that unless Jamie and I were, um, somewhat in our own worlds."

Albarn also insists, however, that his hard drug days are far behind him and that his only addiction now is music.

"I still like a night out, but I certainly don’t do heroin. I haven’t done that for a very long time," he adds. "Music is a compulsion with me. And God help me if I smoke any weed, I’m fucked—I’ll just make more music."