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"I realise that I’ve been an arsehole for a long, long time," says Graham Coxon calmly. "For maybe a quarter of an hour each day I was probably quite nice, probably after three or four drinks."

"Coxon, however, gave up drinking on 15 November last year, after a month in The Priory. On 16 November, he started writing his fourth solo album, The Kiss Of Morning. "

"I think a lot of people thought I was easier to deal with when I was drunk, because I would do as I was told. I was quiet, I was in the corner, just doing my thing. I would just acquiesce. I am on the Blur record. I was in the studio with Blur. I’m just not in there now."

How does Coxon feel knowing they’re in Morocco now? He shrugs. "Glad I’m not there. I don’t want to be in f***ing Morocco recording music. I never even wanted to travel anywhere. When Damon [Albarn] wanted to record in Iceland, I didn’t want to be away from home."
I ask him if he likes the new Blur record and there is a long, long pause. "I dunno, it’s not finished. It was a struggle for me, to be honest, and that’s all I can say. I was only involved in part of it." Will he be involved in promoting it? "F*** no. No way." he laughs.
So, is he actually in the band? "I can’t really say. When is this going out? ... I’m not taking part in anything Blur are doing right now. There’s nothing official yet. I haven’t really been involved in anything with Blur since May."

He claims that he officially parted ways with Blur last month when he was phoned by the band's manager and asked to leave.

"It was something to do with my attitude," he told the magazine.

"Although I felt I was going about my work honestly, perhaps they mistook honesty for attitude."

GRAHAM COXON has said there is "no way" he will promote the new BLUR album, and that personal problems led to him entering rehab.

Blur are currently working on their seventh studio album in Morocco without Coxon, and plan to release the record at the start of next year.

The guitarist claims that he has not been involved with Blur since May, and his drinking has caused problems for him.

Speaking to The Scotsman newspaper, Coxon said: "I realise that I’ve been an arsehole for a long, long time. For maybe a quarter of an hour each day I was probably quite nice, probably after three or four drinks. And after that, I was a snarly, nasty, bitter piece of work. Or hung over and snappy and irritable."

Coxon claims that now he has given up drinking, some people find him more difficult to deal with.

"They think I’m an utter loony, no doubt," he said. "I think a lot of people thought I was easier to deal with when I was drunk, because I would do as I was told. I was quiet, I was in the corner, just doing my thing. I would just acquiesce. I am on the Blur record. I was in the studio with Blur. I’m just not in there now."

When asked if he likes the new album, he replied: "I dunno, it’s not finished. It was a struggle for me, to be honest, and that’s all I can say. I was only involved in part of it."

However, he revealed there is "no way" he will be involved with the promotion of the album, due for release next year.

Coxon admits that his problems got so bad, he admitted himself to the Priory in to get professional help. He concluded: "I was in The Priory for a month. I went in there really shitting myself. They told me it was going to change my life. And it did, y’know? They give you a chance to enter into a spiritual thing and if you don’t bolt, or be a cynical wanker like you’ve been all your life, you can actually get something out of it. It’s not God Squad or anything, it’s whatever you want it to be. It could be a Spiritualized album, it could be the elves and the fairies. It’s so you feel looked after, so you don’t have to take all this weight on yourself. It’s teaching you to be at peace with yourself."