Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has been happier since he gave up drugs three years ago. He told The Daily Telegraph that he wanted to concentrate on being a good father to his one-year-old daughter Anais. He says that he has also stopped fighting with Liam Gallagher and now describes him as a "comic genius".

He said, "Liam used to really annoy me, but now I think he is a comic genius, the funniest guy I have known in my entire life, I believe that in the old days he was difficult and drinking so much because of his ex-wife [Patsy Kensit]. She made him unhappy and he used to take it out on the rest of the band."

He said that he liked drugs and was "good at them" but had panic attacks so decided to stop. He continued, "After you make the decision it is quite easy. And I am quite proud of the fact that I didn't have to check into one of those dodgy clinics."

The guitarist also confirmed that he will no longer perform Wonderwall which he wrote in his wife's (Meg Matthews) honour. He said that it doesn't feel right any more.

He divorced from Meg Matthews in January (2001) and is now in a relationship with PR executive Sara MacDonald.