Courtney Love has claimed that her own fraught private life paved the way for Britney Spears' dramatic public breakdown.

“I had a long, hard fall. I set the stage for Britney to crash and burn. I went through it all first,” Love told Elle Magazine.

Spears' private life, which has been compared to Love's own battles, has been the subject of intense media coverage over the last 18-months.

Like Love's own past experiences, Spears has faced multiple trips to court as part of an ongoing custody battle over her two children.

The singer, who released her new album 'Circus' this week, was also admitted to a psychiatric ward in February amid concerns over her health.

At the time, Love said she was worried that something “very, very bad is gonna happen” to Spears if she didn't receive help.

In a wide-ranging interview, Love also spoke about her weight loss and relationship with comedian Russell Brand.

(by Jason Gregory)