Morrissey believes suicide is ''admirable''.

The 56-year-old singer - who has previously admitted to suffering from depression - insists he has never tried to end his life, though thinks everyone does at some stage and he respects those who go through with it.

He said: ''Everybody thinks about it. Even people who mistakenly assume they are happy [think about suicide].

''They think of disappearing and having enough, and many people do. Just taking control and saying no more. No more, no more of this silliness ... and it's admirable.''

Opening up about his own battle with depression, the 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' hitmaker admitted it ''never gets better'' but won't take medication to treat the condition.

Speaking to Larry King in his first televised interview for 10 years, he said: ''For me, it never gets better. I've had it for many years. I refer to it as the 'black dog'. It doesn't go away. It's usually the very first thing when you wake up, there is no cure, and I think it's part of being a sensitive, open human.

''I don't [take medication], I've been through everything, it's pointless. It's a frame of mind, a state of mind, it's circumstantial.''

Last October, the former Smiths singer revealed he had been treated for cancer but he told Larry he was now feeling ''OK'', though he still requires treatment.

He said: ''Barrett's cancer, it's in the oesophagus. They scrape it occasionally and I have medication, but I'm OK. Lots of people have it and they fade away, lots of people have it and they don't fade away.''

Asked if he is in good health now, he replied: ''Blooming.''

And the 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' singer admitted it took some time for his diagnosis to sink in.

Discussing his initial reaction, he said: ''You don't really hear that word, that c-word. It seems to drift over you - you just say: 'Yes, oh yes.' Later when you're on the stairs by yourself, it triggers in your mind. At the time, you don't hear it.''