Starsailor describe

Rex Features

Starsailor have opened up about their experiences of working with disgraced producer Phil Spector in 2003.

The group's lead singer James Walsh described Spector, who was yesterday found guilty of murdering model Lana Clarkson, as "withdrawn" and difficult to work with.

"The two tracks 'Silence Is Easy' and 'White Dove' were recorded in the first week of working with him. He then returned to LA and came back to England some weeks later a different character," Walsh said in a statement.

"The out going charismatic producer we had met previously had become withdrawn and hard to communicate with.

"We persevered as long as we could out of respect for the man and his reputation but we had to call it a day after a while."

Walsh added that weeks after parting ways with Spector he learnt of his arrest for murder.

"It is hard for me to pass judgment on whether he is guilty or innocent. We certainly never saw an aggressive side to him while we worked with him but like everybody else we do not know exactly what went on inside that house," he said.

Starsailor released new album All The Plans last month.