Noel Gallagher Suffering from Tinnitus

Noel Gallagher fans have had an exciting few weeks, thanks to the recent leaking of some new demos -- but while we've been enjoying new sounds from Noel, he's been dealing with a different kind of noise.

During an interview with Talksport (via NME), Gallagher revealed that his doctors have diagnosed him with tinnitus, an ear condition defined as "the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound." In other words, he's got ringing in his ears -- and as with other famously afflicted sufferers such as Pete Townshend and Coldplay's Chris Martin, years of playing loud music on stage is the culprit.

"I went for a brain scan," explained the former member of Oasis. "They did find it. I’ve got bizarre ringing in my ears. I think it’s just through playing guitar for the last 20 years so I had to sit in a tube in the hospital."

In typical Gallagher fashion, however, he refused to acknowledge any regrets. "It’s an accumulation of many things but I’ve had a bloody great time doing it all," he concluded, "and if I do eventually die of brain disease it will have been worth it."

Whatever course of treatment Gallagher decides to pursue, he should have plenty of time to try it out -- as he announced last November, he's giving his music career a "massive break in transmission" so he can spend more time "indulging my beautiful wife and wonderful kids AND that crazy football club of mine."