Pop group Duran Duran are being sued by a Los Angeles man who says his phone number was mistakenly given out as a ticket hotline for their concerts.

Cornell Zachary, 57, is seeking millions of dollars in damages after claiming he suffered permanent health problems as a result of all the calls from fans.

The unemployed machinist launched his action against the band in the city's superior court.

It states they "created a nuisance as the result of unnecessary, unreasonable and injurious methods of operating their business enterprise".

Among those named in the claim, which seeks unspecified exemplary and punitive damages, are the group's Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, Microsoft and SFX Entertainment.

Zachary said his number was posted on the internet in July last year, encouraging fans to call for tickets, t-shirts and souvenirs.

It was removed from the site a few weeks later, but by that time he said he had already received "millions" of calls and was still being pestered.

"The phone calls were coming in on a 24-hour basis from all over the world," he explained.

"They had me to the point where my doctor told me I could have a stroke."

Life-threatening

In the action, he claims to have suffered "life-threatening high blood pressure episodes", together with nerve damage, sleep disturbance and permanent health problems.

But despite being besieged day and night by the calls, Zachary insisted he never considered changing his number.

"I didn't make the mistake. I had already had the number over a year. They have never even given me a sorry card, you know?"

He added: "Duran Duran is not an unpopular group with me. This is nothing personal."

A spokesman for the band was not immediately available for comment.

Duran Duran enjoyed huge international success in the 1980s with hits such as Rio, Girls On Film, Hungry Like the Wolf and Union Of The Snake.

Original members Roger, Andy and John Taylor left and Le Bon and Rhodes were joined by Warren Cuccurullo.