Bernard Butler 'not asked' to rejoin Suede

Bernard Butler has confirmed that he will not be rejoining Suede when the band play a one-off show at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The guitarist was a founder member of the group and played guitar and co-wrote the songs on their self-titled debut and its follow-up Dog Man Star, before quitting and being replaced by the then-17-year-old Richard Oakes.

Butler told BBC 6 Music: "It's a shame for them that my name gets dragged into it to try and stir something up. The honest answer is that I haven't been asked to do it.

"I saw Brett the other night socially and it's not really something we're going to go on about. So, it's all in people's fantasies and imaginations really."

He added: "I think they were really happy without me for quite a while and I think they'd be really unhappy with me now.

"They were a really successful band and I was with them for five minutes, relatively, to the history of the band. And they get along fine.

"I think they'll manage this on their own. I think it's a good idea. It's a great charity and I'll be on the front row chucking peanuts at them."

After quitting Suede in 1994, Butler worked with David McAlmont before releasing two solo albums and going on to collaborate with The Libertines, Duffy, Kate Nash and others.

In 2005, he reunited with Suede frontman Brett Anderson as The Tears for a single album release.