Quotes By Elton John

When people go to rehab and come out, they go through a difficult period, a lot of people. I never had that. I was so glad to be rid of all that crap that for me, to learn again and to function as a human being and learn how to participate in the human race again was just pure joy.

Everything I thought I'd hate about having children - the crying, the screaming - nothing fazes me. I love it all and it's relaxed me.

I think performers are all show-offs anyway, especially musicians. Unless you show off, you're not going to get noticed.

When a rumor doesn't go away it's not a rumor.

The worst thing you can do to a child, and I've seen it happen so many times, is the silver spoon.

When your persona begins to take over your music and becomes more important, you enter a dangerous place. Once you have people around you who don't question you, you're in a dangerous place.

I am such a Luddite when it comes to making music. All I can do is write at the piano.

I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it. I didn't ever want to be anything else. I just started banging away and semi-studied classical music at the Royal Academy of Music but sort of half-heartedly.

We have a society where every hit maker and TV presenter is gay.

I'm so proud to be on a Kate Bush record; she's always marched to the beat of her own drum.

I grew up at my grandmother's house, and she had a beautiful garden. I used to hate mowing the lawn and weeding, which is what you do when you're a kid. I loathe gardening, but I love gardens, and I have two beautiful gardens.

Simon Cowell and I are great friends and we wind each other up. Rod Stewart and I do the same thing.

Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot.

I've been going to Russia since 1979. I've been going quite frequently, and I've always had a wonderful rapport with the Russian audiences and with the Russian people.

I've always been dead set against festivals, really suspicious and wary.

I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships.

I'm not everybody's cup of tea. But sometimes criticism can be hurtful. Be respectful I'm a good piano player, I can sing well, I write good songs. If you don't like it, fair enough. But give me a break.

You can call me a fat, balding, talentless old queen who can't sing, but you can't tell lies about me.

I tried to commit suicide one day. It was a very Woody Allen-type suicide. I turned on the gas and left all the windows open.

I do like Britney Spears. I think she's cute. I think she's fun. And I like her records. You know, I'm not a pop snob whatsoever. I think she makes great pop records.