Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody: 'U2 are our competitors'

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody has claimed that U2 still strive to be relevant.

The 'Chasing Cars' frontman, who is currently supporting U2 on tour with his band, said that the Irish rockers still have a "voracious appetite for music".

Lightbody told Absolute Radio: "They are still hungry to compete against younger bands, bands that are just coming out.

"They want to compete, they want to be relevant, they want to kick ass."

The singer also insisted that U2 have given Snow Patrol a lot of time and support on the tour, which he confessed is not usually the case when touring with another band.

He said: "Sometimes you're lucky to get a word out of a band that you're playing with but U2 have taken us under their wings. You learn an awful lot in there."

Snow Patrol recently unveiled their new single 'Called Out In The Dark', which will be released in the UK on September 4.

Lightbody previously revealed that REM singer Michael Stipe helped Snow Patrol write new material for their upcoming record.

Listen to Snow Patrol's new single 'Called Out In The Dark' below: