Elton John speaks out on Rod Stewart's feud claims with explosive 'tell-all' chapter in new book
14 October 2020, 10:28
Sir Rod Stewart has claimed that Sir Elton John has snubbed all efforts to "heal their rift" - but now the 'Your Song' singer has responded to the claims with a new chapter in his book.
Rod, 75, told how he had invited Elton, 73, to his Essex home for a game of football on his own pitch, but that the 'Rocket Man' singer "snubbed him".
Rod shared: "We don’t talk to each other anymore. Big falling out."
Rod claims that Elton "had the hump" after he said that his retirement tour was "not rock ‘n’ roll".
Read more: Elton John and Rod Stewart ‘not talking’ after ‘spat’ over farewell tour
He continued: "Last time I emailed him I said, 'I’ve got this football pitch, would you like the boys to come up?' You know, because they both love football."
However, Rod said he did not receive a reply, adding that he feels "very sad" about the situation because they "used to be good friends".
Rod and Elton first met around 50 years ago, and they were even neighbours in London back in the seventies.
Rod previously explained: "I loved the fact that he was the kind of bloke who could see the comedy value in driving 30 times around the roundabout that surrounds the Marble Arch monument in the middle of London."
Elton also once said of Rod: "We try and publicise the fact that we always have a go at each other in the papers, but in fact we do that for reasons only known to us, really. We’re actually very good friends."
Read more: Elton John’s ex-wife suing for ‘£3 million’ for discussing their marriage in his book
However, the celebrity duo have also exchanged jibes over various issues, including their music.
Rod previously shared: "Elton sent me an email saying, 'I never have a headache but yesterday morning I had the biggest f****** banger I’ve ever had. It was because you were on the f****** radio!'"
Following the latest fallout, Boy George tweeted: "Rod Stewart and Elton have fallen out? The world is less glam!"
Rod Stewart and Elton have fallen out? The world is less glam!
— Boy George (the truth is in your breath) (@BoyGeorge) October 7, 2020
Rod Stewart On Elton John’s Retirement
Elton has now responded to Rod's comments, with a source telling The Sun: "Rod's continued barbed and personal criticism of his recent successes has crossed a line beyond their usual friendly rivalry.
"Elton cherishes his friendship with Rod and hasn't wanted to go public so made attempts to contact Rod directly to clear the air.
"When his requests to speak were either knocked back or went unanswered, Elton felt compelled to set the record straight with this new chapter in his autobiography."
Read more: Elton John criticises modern chart hits: 'They’re not real songs'
In the paperback version of Elton’s autobiography Me: Elton John, the singer has dedicated a whole new chapter, writing: "I certainly didn’t feel like I needed a lecture on the feral spirit of rock and roll from someone who’d spent most of the last decade crooning his way through the Great American Songbook and 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'.
"What’s more, I thought he had a f*****g cheek, complaining about me promoting a tour while he was sat on a TV show promoting his own tour."
Elton added: "I had no idea what I’d done to upset him so much. Which was ironic, given the hours I’d put in over the years deliberately trying to annoy him."
Rod has since responded, blaming TV producers for "plying him with alcohol" before he made the comments on the chat show.
He said: "She [Elton] doesn’t like me at the moment. I was bang out of order. Correct, but bang out of order.
"They make sure you get drunk before you go on. Four big shots of neat vodka and with me being a butch man, I knocked them all back.
"I said that 300 dates in three years sounded a bit money-grabbing to me. Look, I know where’s he’s coming from.
"He’s just got two kids very, very late in life but I’m planning my tours around my kids. I think he’ll miss it. I can’t wait for the next show."
