George Michael: ‘Elton John is Like a Grumpy Old Woman’

George Michael: ‘Elton John is Like a Grumpy Old Woman’

Friday March 11, 2011

http://www.showbizspy.com/article/228192/george-michael-elton-john-is-like-a-grumpy-old-woman.html

GEORGE Michael thinks Sir Elton John is like a “grumpy” old woman.
The True Faith singer — who duetted with the Rocket Man hitmaker on 1991’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me — accused the 63-year-old star of getting increasingly angry as he grows older, comparing him with a foul-mouthed grandmother from a British comedy sketch show.
“We all earn the right to get a little more grumpy as we get older — but he’s getting terribly close to Nan territory, you know the Nan from Catherine Tate,” he said.
However, the 47-year-old singer admitted that although he may not always see eye-to-eye to Elton, he will always respect him for being an inspiration.
“Elton can do no wrong because he did so much right for my life. He was one of my mentors in every way as a child who really wanted to write and sing,” he said.
“He will always have a special place regardless of our tiffs.”
George — who recently admitted he has been free of drugs since serving four weeks of an eight-week prison sentence for driving under the influence of drugs last September — and Elton fell out after the Freedom hitmaker criticized the star for trying to force him into seeking help for substance abuse problems.
Responding to Elton’s urges for him to admit he has a problem, George said in 2009, “Elton will not be happy until I bang on his door in the middle of the night saying, ‘Please, please, help me, Elton. Take me to rehab.’ It’s not going to happen.”
Tags: elton john, george michael

Simon Cowell hits back at Elton John: 'Take the £1million you make from a private gig and nurture young musicians like I do'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1364662/Simon-Cowell-hits-Sir-Elton-John-X-Factor-nurtures-young-musicians.html#ixzz1GECvlQ3z

By Sara Nathan
Last updated at 12:57 PM on 11th March 2011



He has been accused of ‘single-handedly’ ruining the music industry by his toughest critics.
But X Factor impresario Simon Cowell was stung into action to defend complaints by Sir Elton John over his almost complete monopoly on the charts - as he launched a withering attack on the singer.
The X Factor mogul suggested the Rocket Man singer, who claimed that reality shows have ‘killed talent’, should spend his millions earned from private shows supporting young hopefuls – rather than criticising his TV programmes.

 

Defensive: Simon Cowell has hit back at Elton John's recent accusation that the X Factor has 'killed talent' on Piers Morgan Tonight

He called claims that his artists and TV shows were ruining the music industry as ‘absolute rubbish.’
The 51-year-old music boss also spoke out in the light of recent comments made by Oasis creator Alan McGee, who accused reality contests of making it impossible for truly talented hopefuls to find success.

 

His hackles rose during an interview with Piers Morgan on his CNN chat show, who told him:  ‘Certain people out there, and you - you know, you’ve seen the criticism - will say that you have single-handedly destroyed the music industry.’

 

Tirade: In an interview last month the singer questioned if X Factor contestants can 'cut the mustard,' and called Cheryl Cole 'c**p'

Cowell interrupted him, saying: ‘What?  Who said that?’ Morgan gave him the example of Alan McGee, adding: ‘What he said was, "The dominance of your shows in the music charts and the spin-off effects make it very hard for bands like Oasis now to come through".'
But the multi-millionaire, who is in America to launch the U.S. version of the X Factor, insisted: ‘Absolute rubbish.  Rubbish.  I mean, it has no affect at all.  Look, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a top 100 or a top 200.
‘You know, what you want is people back into stores buying music. I mean, how can that be a bad thing?’

 

Not impressed: Cowell said: 'I tell you what, you just made a million dollars off your last private gig. Go and give it to a bunch of young musicians'

 

Accusations: Cowell was taken aback when Piers Morgan asked him on his show what he thought of claims he is ‘single-handedly’ ruining the music industry

He then hit back at Sir Elton John, who last month called the state of British pop music ‘just awful’, and said that reality TV shows have ‘killed talent,’ adding: ‘Can any X Factor people cut the mustard?’
Sir Elton even attacked X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, calling her music ‘c**p’.
Recording an interview for Morgan’s CNN show, Piers Morgan Tonight, Cowell said: ‘Well, look.  This is somebody who charges what - a million dollars a private gig?  Two million dollars, you know?
‘I don’t know whether he’s concerned about himself - maybe it is.  But they always bleat on that we’re not giving other people a chance.  

 

Peace: Despite the war of words, Cowell says he will continue to feature Elton's music on his shows

‘And I always want to say to them, ‘I tell you what, you just made a million dollars off your last private gig. 
'Go and give it to a bunch of young musicians you care about, put them in the studio.  Go and nurture them.  Go and spend some time looking after them.  Then I’ll buy your argument.
‘They’re only worried about themselves.’
Despite his attack on Sir Elton, 63, Cowell has still used the singer’s greatest hits on past series of the  X Factor.
The full interview will air on Monday and Morgan, 45, said: ‘He talks fame, fortune, marriage…Cowell only booked for a 30-minute interview, but we got carried away and did the whole hour. It will show the rare emotional side of TV’s Mr Nasty.’

Piers Morgan Tonight airs on CNN International on Tuesdays at 8pm

 
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1364662/Simon-Cowell-hits-Sir-Elton-John-X-Factor-nurtures-young-musicians.html#ixzz1GOzYQedV