Tom Meighan, lead singer of Kasabian, has contracted swine flu reports claim, as his other band mates apparently also show signs of the potentially deadly virus.

The band are now holed up in their hotel room in Australia, having contracted the illness after having spent time promoting their latest album, 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum', in Japan.

Guitarist Serge Pizzorno told the Sun, "We're all sick as dogs, man. It's pretty terrible. It's a bit of a virus that we picked up in Japan. It's so tough... I am confined to my hotel room and I look out and see the Opera House and the harbour and so want to be out there in it all.”

The outbreak has lead to the remaining dates of Kasabian's tour in Australia being cancelled, but the band are optimistic that their date in Malaysia on Saturday will go ahead as originally planned.

(by Andrew Almond)