Max Drummey has claimed his six month marriage to Peaches Geldof was a hoax.

Drummey, a member of US band Chester French, said he paid Geldof to marry him at the Little White Chapel in Vegas last year.

"It was totally a publicity stunt. 100%. I have Peaches on retainer. Not as my PR, as my friend. On my personal payroll,” he told the Daily Mirror.

Fears were raised when Geldof, 20, and Drummey, 19, announced their marriage in August, only to split in February 2009.

Speaking for the first time about their relationship, Drummey claimed Geldof was his “friend for money” and that she “orchestrates publicity stunts for me”.

“I've garnered so much amazing publicity from awesome people,” he added.