Keane drummer Richard Hughes says he feels “totally sorry” for Amy Winehouse and has called for the press to leave the singer alone.

Hughes, who saw band mate Tom Chaplin endure rehab two years ago, criticised the media's portrayal of the singer – and the wider issue of celebrity culture.

He told Gigwise: “I feel totally sorry for her. I wish people would leave her alone. It's not interesting and I don't understand why it is interesting.

“I literally cannot understand. Stuff like Big Brother – it's just not even in my life because I just don't watch it. It's like I don't smoke.”

However, Hughes said he was confident that Winehouse would return with a strong follow-up to her 2006 album 'Back To Black', despite her problems with drugs and alcohol.

“In two years time she'll probably come back with another amazing record and I can't wait to hear it because I loved the last two,” he said.

The modern day celebrity is one of the themes on Keane's new album 'Perfect Symmetry', which is released next month.

The album is the band's first self-produced record, which Hughes said is an example of how they have gelled following Chaplin's spell in rehab.

“It just felt like the natural thing to do. We're a gang and we know what we want to do," he told Gigwise.

"Although we didn't have a plan as to how it was going to sound, we've got quite good at following our musical instincts."

(by Jason Gregory)