After battling depression for years, he said fatherhood gave him a new lease of life.

Now singer Peter Gabriel is to be a father for the fourth time at the age of 58.

It is the second son for the former Genesis singer and keyboard player and his 37-year-old Irish wife Maebh Flynn, following the birth of Isaac six years ago.

He also has two adult daughters from his previous marriage to Jill Moore whom he married when he was 20.

Peter Gabriel, with wife Maebh Flynn, has become a father for the fourth time

Anna, now 33 is a documentary film-maker while Melanie, 31, works as a music producer.

In June of last year, just three months before his current wife became pregnant with his new son Luc, which means 'light',  the singer, who plunged into depression after the collapse of his first marriage in 1989, said becoming a father again had handed him a 'second adolescence'.

The delighted singer made the announcement of the new birth of his website saying the couple were now 'proud parents of a second son'.

The message added: 'Luc was born on Saturday, 5th July a bouncing 7Ib 2oz. Big brother Isaac reports that mother, father and baby brother are all doing well.

'They request that any congratulatory flowers people may contemplate sending be left to grow in the ground for all to enjoy.'

Gabriel married Miss Flynn, a music technician-turned-filmaker, four years ago.

Having initially struggled with the demands of being a father earlier in his career, he says he is now prepared for sleepless nights at a time when most would be thinking of a peaceful retirement.

Last year he revealed how Isaac's birth had finally helped his struggle with the blues following several years of therapy, which he also claims was fuelled by guilt over being a 'weekend father' to his daughters. Some would say much of his music as a solo artists reflects that.

'I was very busy when the girls were young. I've had much more time now to get up in the night and then play with Isaac in the day than I did before. It's like having a second adolescence,' he said. 'I'm less concerned about my worldly success and more interested in bringing up Isaac.'

He added: 'I absolutely love being a dad. I hope I give up more time to it. I know what my priorities should be. I think I know now what a joy it is and how fleeting it is because they've left home before you can blink.'

The arrival follows a growing list of aging stars who have embarked on fatherhood late in the day.

In 2004 television host Des O'Connor became a father for the fifth time aged 72. Last year veteran broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby had a daughter at the age of 62 with opera singer Jessica Ray, 33.

Actor Sir David Jason's daughter Sophie Mae was born when he was 61 while singer Rod Stewart had his seventh child in 2005 at the age of 60, more than forty years after the birth of his first.

In 1999 at the age of 56, Mick Jagger also became a father for the seventh time after an affair with Brazilian model Luciana Morad.

Fellow rock star Rick Parfitt recently fathered twins at 59 while in April this year, game-show host Les Dennis became a father at 53 when his fiance Claire Nicholson gave birth to Eleanor Grace.

A spokesman for the Peter Gabriel said he would now be taking a break from his music in favour of fatherly duties.

'Peter is working in a new album, but naturally he'll be taking some time off now. He loves performing live but he's decided to cut back on work for the time being.'