SNOW BRIGHT

SNOW Patrol are releasing their first ever album of HAPPY love songs tomorrow—even though singer Gary Lightbody is suffering from heartache AGAIN.

After finishing A Hundred Million Suns —a celebration of him finding someone special—his relationship ended.

But he told Rated: “Whether I’m single or not isn’t the point of these songs—if you start thinking about me and my story, it stops the songs being universal. But, yeah, I’m single.”

Gary, 32, said he’d wanted to surprise fans who expected more heartbreak anthems like Chasing Cars and Run.

Speaking from his home near a remote beach in Northern Ireland, he confessed: “After the last two records, it was time to write about how glorious being in love can be.

“I didn’t want it to be any old love lyrics. The songs are so intimate, I want people to think, ‘God, should I even be listening to this? This is really near the knuckle.’”

Despite the upbeat tunes, Gary doubts he’ll EVER find his soulmate. He ponders: “Women are so much more powerful than men. The women in my life, particularly in my family, are far stronger than I am.

“My grandmother was an amazing woman, revered by everyone in Derry. It affected me greatly when she died.

“My younger sister Sarah works with children with learning disabilities, which puts any moans I have into perspective.

“My mum’s so strong too. I don’t know where women get their strength from. The mystery of women is incredibly attractive.”

A Hundred Million Suns is the first album the half-Irish, half-Scottish band have released since Gary became comfortable with the idea of fame after going off the rails.

He started drinking a lot but scoffs at rumours he was an alcoholic. “It p***es me off when I see stories saying that,” he says.

“I can’t say I won’t get into trouble again though. That disaster button is just lying dormant, and has been for a while.”

But he added: “We’ve just made an amazing record, I’m happy with where my life is and the band has never been better. That’ll do for me.”