Rocker Dave Matthews turned interviewer on Friday when he found himself chatting to Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama.

The singer-songwriter was among those picked to quiz the spiritual guru during a five-hour music and conversation event at the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.

Matthews told the Dalai Lama that he was once part of a school gang which earned a reputation for "beating up" students from a rival school.

He explained that many of the kids he once terrified have become among his best friends.