Alex's tips from Britney and Kylie

Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner has revealed he has been picking up gig tips from unlikely sources - Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue.

The rock act's singer-guitarist admitted he had been to see the glamour girls' performances to work out how to work an area.

He told the NME he had been an arena virgin until he eyed up Kylie and Britney for research purposes.

"I'd never even been to a gig in an arena. But recently, knowing we've got this coming up, I've been trying to dip my toe into that," he said.

"So I've seen Britney Spears at The O2, I saw Kylie the other week, and we went to see Beyonce in Japan - to try and see how it pans out. And so those are the only gigs in arenas I've ever been to, apart from like WWF Wrestling when I was six, but that doesn't really count."

Turner, whose band plays a series of arena shows beginning in Liverpool next week, said their performances would not actually emulate those of the stars he has seen.

"There's not gonna be circus performers or bass solos. Beyonce had an all-girl band and one of them was doing these daft bass solos. No, there's not gonna be any horn sections. But you can't try and be all coy about it with something that big.

"I think to some degree you can't hold back. That's what I've learnt from those three anyway. Kylie was terrific, by the way."