David Bowie 'took drugs to beat his shyness'

David Bowie says that he got into drugs as a result of shyness.

He says cocaine helped him overcome it.

Bowie has also admitted sneaking drugs to Iggy Pop when he was in psychiatric hospital in 1975.

He tells this month's Blender magazine "The biggest misconception about me is that I have no sense of humour.

"I probably was a bit serious but only because I'm very shy. That's probably one of the reasons I got so heavily into drugs.

"When you're doing coke, you talk enough for several people."

Bowie also admits that when Iggy Pop was in psychiatric hospital in 1975, he took him drugs to cheer him up.