He became instantly recognisable for his trademark rolling gait onstage and off, a braggadocious walk that spawned a thousand imitators.

But Liam Gallagher, the former Oasis singer, has said he would rather be pushed around in a wheelchair than endure the “stigma” of a hip replacement operation.

Fearful of losing the rock and roll credibility accumulated during a career of smash hits, after-show parties and public rows with his brother and fellow band member Noel, he says he would rather live with the pain.

The Mancunian star, who suffers from arthritis because of a longstanding thyroid problem, has said he is prepared to defy the advice of doctors despite relying on sleeping pills to get through the pain.

Gallagher, who turns 50 in September, said: “My hips are f—– … I’ve got arthritis, bad. I went to get it checked and my bones are mashed up.

“The lady was going: ‘You might need a hip operation, a replacement’ – no way. You’re all right… I think I’d rather just be in pain, which is ridiculous, obviously. I know that – just get them fixed.

“But it’s also the stigma, saying you’ve had your hips replaced… What’s next?”

Gallagher, whose band were one of the most successful of the Britpop era with hits such as Roll With It, says he would rather be pushed around in a wheelchair by his partner Debbie than have hip replacement surgery.